Kharif Sowing Gains Momentum in India: Paddy Acreage Sees a Jump of 2.8 Million Hectares, Pulses and Oilseeds Show Mixed Trends
29 July 2025, New Delhi: India’s Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare has released updated figures on the sowing progress of Kharif crops as of July 25, 2025. The data indicates a robust sowing season with a total of 82.96 million hectares covered so far, compared to 79.79 million hectares during the same period last year—an overall increase of 3.17 million hectares.
Paddy Leads the Surge in Kharif Crops
Paddy (rice) has shown the most significant expansion among all Kharif crops this season. The sown area has reached 24.51 million hectares, a remarkable 2.9 million hectare increase over last year’s figure of 21.61 million hectares. This sharp rise underscores farmer confidence and timely monsoon support in major rice-growing states.
Pulses: Gains in Moong and Moth Beans, Decline in Arhar and Urad
Total pulse cultivation has also improved, reaching 9.3 million hectares, up from 8.99 million hectares last year. Notable increases include:
- Moong (Green Gram): Up by 0.42 million hectares
- Moth Bean: Gained 0.31 million hectares
However, this gain is partially offset by declines in:
- Arhar (Pigeon Pea): Down by 0.31 million hectares
- Urad (Black Gram): Down by 0.12 million hectares
These shifts reflect changing regional preferences, late rains in some pulse belts, and market-led dynamics.
Coarse Cereals: Maize Drives Growth
The area under coarse cereals has reached 16.07 million hectares, an increase of 0.57 million hectares from last year. Maize (corn) stands out with an impressive 0.67 million hectare rise, taking its sown area to 8.56 million hectares.
Minor declines were recorded in ragi, small millets, and sorghum, but they were not enough to offset maize’s performance.
Oilseeds: Soybean Acreage Shrinks, Groundnut Gains
The total acreage under oilseeds stands at 16.68 million hectares, down by 0.38 million hectares compared to last year. Key highlights:
- Soybean: Registered a notable decline of 0.47 million hectares
- Groundnut and Sesame: Saw small increases of 0.40 and 0.31 million hectares, respectively
Mixed trends in oilseeds indicate region-specific climate and price factors influencing sowing decisions.
Commercial Crops: Cane Stable, Cotton Falls
- Sugarcane acreage is marginally up by 0.29 million hectares to reach 5.52 million hectares
- Cotton, however, has dropped significantly by 0.24 million hectares, now at 10.31 million hectares, raising concerns for India’s textile and ginning sectors
- Jute & Mesta cultivation has dipped slightly by 0.18 million hectares
Summary Table: Kharif Sowing Progress (as of July 25, 2025)
| Crop/Group | Normal Area (Mn ha) | 2025-26 Sown Area | 2024-25 Sown Area | Change (Mn ha) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paddy | 40.31 | 24.51 | 21.61 | +2.90 |
| Pulses | 12.96 | 9.30 | 8.99 | +0.31 |
| – Moong | 3.57 | 3.06 | 2.64 | +0.42 |
| – Moth Bean | 0.97 | 0.81 | 0.51 | +0.31 |
| – Arhar | 4.47 | 3.49 | 3.80 | -0.31 |
| – Urad | 3.26 | 1.65 | 1.78 | -0.12 |
| Coarse Cereals | 18.07 | 16.07 | 15.49 | +0.57 |
| – Maize | 7.89 | 8.56 | 7.89 | +0.67 |
| Oilseeds | 19.46 | 16.68 | 17.07 | -0.38 |
| – Soybean | 12.71 | 11.67 | 12.13 | -0.47 |
| – Groundnut | 4.51 | 4.11 | 4.08 | +0.03 |
| – Sesame | 1.03 | 0.74 | 0.71 | +0.03 |
| Sugarcane | 5.25 | 5.52 | 5.49 | +0.03 |
| Jute & Mesta | 0.66 | 0.55 | 0.57 | -0.02 |
| Cotton | 12.95 | 10.31 | 10.55 | -0.24 |
| Total | 109.66 | 82.96 | 79.79 | +3.17 |
Outlook: Sowing Gains Signal Strong Start for Kharif 2025-26
The overall 4% rise in sowing area suggests that Indian farmers are optimistic about this year’s Kharif season, buoyed by better monsoon performance and early policy interventions. The strong momentum in paddy and maize could bolster food grain production, though falling soybean and cotton acreage may impact agri-markets in the coming months.
For international agri-watchers, India’s acreage expansion in key food grains signals a resilient supply outlook from one of the world’s largest agricultural economies.
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