Over 4% Decline in Kharif Crop Acreage in Maharashtra

18-Sep-2026 01:08 PM

Mumbai: In Maharashtra, a leading agricultural state in Western India, the total area under Kharif crops reached 139.70 lakh hectares this year. This figure is approximately 4 percent lower than the sown area during the same period last year and represents 89 percent of the five-year average area of ​​157.50 lakh hectares. Compared to the previous year, the state has seen a reduction in the acreage of paddy, coarse cereals, and pulses, while the area under oilseed crops has increased slightly.

According to official data, the area under paddy cultivation in Maharashtra during the current Kharif season dropped from 15.10 lakh hectares to around 14 lakh hectares compared to the previous year. Similarly, the acreage for maize fell from 14.50 lakh hectares to 13 lakh hectares, and the sown area for pearl millet (bajra) declined from 3.25 lakh hectares to 2.81 lakh hectares.

Within the pulses category, the area under *Arhar* (tur/pigeon pea) slipped from 12.20 lakh hectares to 12 lakh hectares, the sown area for *Moong* (green gram) fell from 2.11 lakh hectares to 1.47 lakh hectares, and the area for *Urad* (black gram) dropped from 3.78 lakh hectares to 1.99 lakh hectares. Consequently, the total area under pulses fell from 18.80 lakh hectares last year to 16.20 lakh hectares this year.

On the other hand, the area under oilseed crops improved slightly during this period, rising from 51.27 lakh hectares to 51.32 lakh hectares. Within this category, the sown area for groundnut improved from 1.37 lakh hectares to 1.41 lakh hectares, whereas the area under soybean slipped marginally from 49.74 lakh hectares to 49.70 lakh hectares. Similarly, the cotton acreage also slipped from 38.44 lakh hectares to 38.40 lakh hectares.