Satisfactory Sowing of Kharif Crops
08-Aug-2026 10:34 AM
After remaining largely inactive, sluggish, and weak in June, the Southwest Monsoon became active in July, accelerating the pace of Kharif crop sowing. The monsoon's strength and intensity have increased further in the current month (August), bringing good rainfall to various parts of the country—rain that is currently occurring and is expected to continue.
Bolstered by monsoon rains, Indian farmers have a great opportunity to ramp up Kharif cultivation; consequently, the gap in sown area compared to last year has narrowed to just 1.8 million hectares (18 lakh hectares), down from a peak deficit of over 10 million hectares (100 lakh hectares) in June. With heavy rainfall across the country, the Kharif sowing drive is proceeding in full swing.
August is a crucial month for crop cultivation. Currently, the overall Kharif acreage lags behind primarily due to the figures for paddy, arhar (pigeon pea), moong (green gram), and maize, whereas the sown area for other crops has either surpassed last year's levels or come very close to them. If the rainy spell continues, the sowing area figures could rise even more rapidly in the near future.
There is no doubt that the monsoon is battling the adverse effects of the El Niño weather cycle this year; however, fortuitously, certain positive factors have emerged that are helping to boost the monsoon's strength and momentum.
As of August 7, 2026, the total area under Kharif crops has reached 96.79 million hectares (967.92 lakh hectares), compared to 98.59 million hectares (985.89 lakh hectares) last year. While the current acreage remains significantly below the five-year average of 110.4 million hectares (1104 lakh hectares), it could catch up in the coming period.
Although the area under paddy is lagging by about 2 percent, there is no shortage of rice in the country. The acreage for oilseeds has surpassed last year's figures, and the gap in the area under pulses has also narrowed considerably. Overall, the sowing of Kharif crops has been satisfactory.