Maharashtra Kharif Acreage Still Lags Last Year Despite Sowing Progress

12-Aug-2025 07:00 PM

Mumbai. Although there has been some progress in sowing of Kharif crops in Maharashtra during recent weeks, its area is still lagging behind last year.

Compared to last year, this time there has been improvement in the area under paddy, maize and urad in Maharashtra, while the rest of the crops have been sown in less area.

According to the latest data of the state agriculture department, the total production area of Kharif crops in Maharashtra till August 11 this year reached 142.07 lakh hectares, which was 1.58 lakh hectares less than the sowing area of 143.65 lakh hectares during the same period last year.

In comparison to last year, this time the production area of non-food crops including paddy in the state increased from 30.36 lakh hectare to 32.72 lakh hectare but the sowing area of pulses slipped from 18.81 lakh hectare to 18.44 lakh hectare and the area of cotton decreased from 40.82 lakh hectare to 38.39 lakh hectare. The area of oilseeds has also decreased.

During the period under review, the production area of paddy in the upcoming crops increased from 13.31 lakh hectare to 13.56 lakh hectare and the area of maize jumped from 11.07 lakh hectare to 14.31 lakh hectare but the area of sorghum fell from 1.06 lakh hectare to 85 thousand hectare and the sowing area of millet got stuck at 3.21 lakh hectare after decreasing from 3.99 lakh hectare.

Among pulses, the production area of pigeon pea slipped from 12.11 lakh hectares last year to 12.00 lakh hectares this time and the sowing area of moong fell from 2.31 lakh hectares to 2.08 lakh hectares while the area of black gram improved from 3.72 lakh hectares to 3.73 lakh hectares.

The area of other pulses fell from 69 thousand hectares to 63 thousand hectares. Earlier the area of pigeon pea was lagging far behind but now it has come very close.

Among oilseeds, the production area of soybean fell from 50.27 lakh hectares last year to 49.26 lakh hectares this time and the sowing area of groundnut fell from 1.45 lakh hectares to 1.32 lakh hectares.

The area of sesame and sunflower is also behind last year. It is worth mentioning that Maharashtra ranks second in the country in the production of soybean, pigeon pea and cotton.