Kharif Output May Fall as Maharashtra’s Acreage Shrinks

17-Sep-2025 03:54 PM

Pune. The total sown area for Kharif crops in Maharashtra this year has declined to 145.80 lakh hectares as of September 12th, a decrease of 1.93 lakh hectares from the 147.73 lakh hectares during the same period last year.

While this had raised fears of a decline in production, a new crisis is now forecasting a significant decline in yields. In fact, due to torrential rains and prolonged waterlogging in fields in many districts of the state, approximately 43 lakh acres of Kharif crops are reported to have been destroyed or damaged.

According to official data, compared to last year, during the current Kharif season, the area under paddy production in Maharashtra has declined from 15.19 lakh hectares to 15.14 lakh hectares,

the area under jowar has fallen from 1.06 lakh hectares to 84 thousand hectares and the area under millet has declined from 4.01 lakh hectares to 3.25 lakh hectares, while the area under maize has jumped from 11.21 lakh hectares to 14.53 lakh hectares.

Due to maize, the total area under paddy and coarse grains in Maharashtra has increased from 32.48 lakh hectares to 34.66 lakh hectares.

But the area under pulses crops has declined from 19.19 lakh hectares last year to 18.82 lakh hectares this time. Under this, the area under pigeon pea (tuvar) improved from 12.22 lakh hectares to 12.24 lakh hectares,

but the area under green gram decreased from 2.36 lakh hectares to 2.11 lakh hectares, and the area under black gram dropped from 3.89 lakh hectares to 3.78 lakh hectares. The sowing area under other pulses also declined slightly.

In the oilseed crop category, the area under soybean production decreased from 51.52 lakh hectares to 49.74 lakh hectares, and the area under peanuts decreased from 1.48 lakh hectares to 1.37 lakh hectares. Similarly, the area under sesame and sunflower also declined.

The area under sesame fell from 5,000 hectares to 4,000 hectares, and the area under sunflower fell from 10,000 hectares to 7,000 hectares, while the sowing process has almost ended. Not only this, the cotton acreage in Maharashtra has also reduced from 40.82 lakh hectares to 38.45 lakh hectares.