Sowing of Kharif crops in Telangana lags behind due to lack of rains

26-Jun-2025 03:22 PM

Hyderabad. Telangana, one of the leading producers of paddy, cotton, and maize, has received significantly below-average rainfall from the southwest monsoon this year.

According to the Meteorological Department, rainfall in Telangana was 43 percent below the normal average as of June 24, and many districts are facing severe rain deficits. This has adversely affected the sowing of Kharif crops.

As per the latest data from the State Agriculture Department, the total Kharif crop sowing area in Telangana reached only 29.90 lakh acres as of June 25, compared to 35.93 lakh acres during the same period last year—a shortfall of 6.03 lakh acres.

While the area under cereal crops, including paddy, increased from 1.85 lakh acres to 2.52 lakh acres, sowing of pulses declined from 1.91 lakh acres to 1.51 lakh acres. Oilseed coverage dropped from 2.00 lakh acres to 1.47 lakh acres, and cotton sowing area fell from 26.42 lakh acres to 22.85 lakh acres.

Within cereal crops, paddy sowing rose from 65 thousand acres to 1.16 lakh acres, maize from 1.04 lakh acres to 1.17 lakh acres, and sorghum from 16 thousand acres to 18 thousand acres. Ragi sowing has just begun.

Among pulses, the area under pigeon pea (tur) declined from 1.65 lakh acres to 1.37 lakh acres, moong fell from 23 thousand acres to 11 thousand acres, and black gram dropped from 3,227 acres to 2,334 acres.

In oilseeds, soybean acreage reduced from 1.97 lakh acres last year to 1.47 lakh acres this year, while peanuts and castor have been sown only in limited areas.

Although paddy coverage is ahead of last year, farmers are growing increasingly concerned due to the lack of rainfall in several parts of the state.

Historically, Telangana receives good rainfall during July and August, and farmers are now relying on these months to revive sowing activities and ensure the success of the Kharif season.