Record Increase in Maize and Rice Sowing in India, Soybean Area Sees Slight Decline
13 August 2025, New Delhi: The Kharif sowing season is gaining momentum across the country, with farmers rapidly expanding the acreage of key crops. According to the latest data from the Ministry of Agriculture, as of 2025-26, Kharif crops have been sown over 995.63 lakh hectares, marking an increase of 38.48 lakh hectares compared to 957.15 lakh hectares in the previous season. The growth has been particularly strong in rice, maize, and sugarcane, while some crops have seen a slight decline in area.
Significant Growth in Rice, Maize, and Sugarcane
The sowing data indicates a notable expansion in the acreage of rice, coarse cereals, and sugarcane this season. The rice area has reached 364.80 lakh hectares, up by 39.45 lakh hectares from last year. Coarse cereals have been sown over 178.73 lakh hectares, reflecting an increase of 7.77 lakh hectares.
Breaking down the coarse cereals, maize saw a jump of 8.74 lakh hectares, while ragi area increased by 0.26 lakh hectares. Sugarcane sowing also recorded growth, reaching 57.31 lakh hectares, up by 1.64 lakh hectares compared to 2024-25.
Oilseeds and Pulses Lag Behind
Despite the overall growth in Kharif sowing, oilseed crops witnessed a slowdown this year. The total area under oilseeds stood at 175.61 lakh hectares, 6.82 lakh hectares less than the previous season. Among these, soybean sowing declined by 4.73 lakh hectares, and groundnut saw a reduction of 1.84 lakh hectares.
Similarly, cotton acreage decreased to 106.96 lakh hectares, down by 3.53 lakh hectares from 2024-25. Minor reductions were also observed in jowar and bajra sowing.
Crop-Wise Kharif Sowing Overview (2025-26)
| S.No | Crop/Subcrop | Normal Area (2019-20 to 2023-24) | 2025-26 Area (Lakh ha) | 2024-25 Area (Lakh ha) | Change (+/-) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rice | 403.09 | 364.80 | 325.36 | +39.45 |
| 2 | Pulses | 129.62 | 106.68 | 106.52 | +0.16 |
| 2a | Tur | 44.71 | 40.86 | 42.87 | -2.02 |
| 2b | Kulthi | 1.72 | 0.17 | 0.16 | 0 |
| 2c | Urad | 32.64 | 20.15 | 19.91 | +0.24 |
| 2d | Moong | 35.69 | 33.21 | 32.33 | +0.88 |
| 2e | Other pulses | 5.15 | 3.24 | 3.21 | +0.03 |
| 2f | Moth | 9.70 | 9.06 | 8.04 | +1.02 |
| 3 | Coarse cereals | 180.71 | 178.73 | 170.96 | +7.77 |
| 3a | Jowar | 15.07 | 13.69 | 13.96 | -0.27 |
| 3b | Bajra | 70.69 | 64.86 | 65.76 | -0.90 |
| 3c | Ragi | 11.52 | 4.41 | 4.15 | +0.26 |
| 3d | Maize | 78.95 | 91.89 | 83.15 | +8.74 |
| 3e | Other small millets | 4.48 | 3.88 | 3.93 | -0.06 |
| 4 | Oilseeds | 194.63 | 175.61 | 182.43 | -6.82 |
| 4a | Groundnut | 45.10 | 43.23 | 45.06 | -1.84 |
| 4b | Sesame | 10.32 | 8.89 | 9.81 | -0.92 |
| 4c | Sunflower | 1.29 | 0.61 | 0.68 | -0.07 |
| 4d | Soybean | 127.19 | 119.51 | 124.24 | -4.73 |
| 4e | Niger seed | 1.08 | 0.14 | 0.26 | -0.12 |
| 4f | Castor seed | 9.65 | 3.19 | 2.32 | +0.87 |
| 4g | Other oilseeds | — | — | 0.05 | -0.01 |
| 5 | Sugarcane | 52.51 | 57.31 | 55.68 | +1.64 |
| 6 | Jute & mesta | 6.60 | 5.54 | 5.71 | -0.18 |
| 7 | Cotton | 129.50 | 106.96 | 110.49 | -3.53 |
| Total | — | 1096.65 | 995.63 | 957.15 | +38.48 |
This year’s data reflects a positive trend for staple Kharif crops like rice and maize, suggesting that foodgrain production may witness healthy growth, while some oilseeds and cotton may require attention to improve acreage in the remaining sowing period.
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