India’s Kharif crop area reached 1,086.31 lakh hectares by September 4, 2026, down 17.69 lakh hectares from 1,104 lakh hectares during the same period last year. Rice recorded the largest decline among major crops, while pulses and some coarse cereals recorded higher coverage.
The Agriculture Ministry’s weekly Crop Weather Watch Group data shows that the overall area was also below the normal Kharif coverage of 1,104.46 lakh hectares. The figures measure area sown, not final production, so they do not by themselves indicate how much crop India will harvest.
Rice was planted on 421.82 lakh hectares by September 4, compared with 438.19 lakh hectares a year earlier. That is a decline of 16.37 lakh hectares. The ministry reported the largest reductions in Karnataka, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra. Assam and Odisha recorded increases in rice coverage.
Which states saw the biggest rice decline?
Karnataka recorded a 4.28 lakh hectare decline in rice area, followed by Telangana with 3.61 lakh hectares. Uttar Pradesh recorded a 1.84 lakh hectare reduction, while Andhra Pradesh was down 1.91 lakh hectares. Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Jharkhand and Maharashtra also recorded declines. The Agriculture Ministry linked the overall reduction mainly to these major rice-growing states.
Yes. Total pulse coverage reached 117.13 lakh hectares, compared with 115.30 lakh hectares last year. That represents an increase of 1.84 lakh hectares. Tur area rose by 0.72 lakh hectares and urad increased by 2.68 lakh hectares. Moong moved in the opposite direction, declining by 1.04 lakh hectares compared with the same period last year.
Urad recorded the largest increase among the major pulses. Its area reached 25.15 lakh hectares, up from 22.46 lakh hectares last year. Tur also gained area, reaching 45.66 lakh hectares. Moong coverage fell to 33.19 lakh hectares from 34.23 lakh hectares. These changes show that the increase in total pulse area was not uniform across all pulse crops.
What happened to maize?
Maize area declined by 2.99 lakh hectares. Farmers had planted 91.09 lakh hectares by September 4, compared with 94.08 lakh hectares during the corresponding period last year. The decline came despite maize remaining one of India’s major Kharif crops. Area changes do not directly translate into production changes because yield can vary with rainfall, temperature, inputs and crop management.
Yes. Jowar coverage increased by 0.97 lakh hectares to 13.58 lakh hectares, while bajra rose by 1.99 lakh hectares to 64.86 lakh hectares. Ragi moved lower, falling by 1.17 lakh hectares to 7.60 lakh hectares. Small millets recorded a small increase of 0.11 lakh hectares.
What happened to oilseeds?
Total oilseed coverage fell by 1.07 lakh hectares to 191.99 lakh hectares. Soybean area declined by 1.16 lakh hectares, while groundnut fell by 0.83 lakh hectares. Some oilseeds recorded increases. Sesame area rose by 1.44 lakh hectares and sunflower increased by 0.61 lakh hectares. Nigerseed also recorded a small increase.
Cotton area was 109.17 lakh hectares by September 4, compared with 109.87 lakh hectares last year. That represents a decline of 0.69 lakh hectares. The change is smaller than the decline recorded for rice, but it still contributes to the overall reduction in Kharif coverage. Final cotton production will depend on crop condition and yield as the season progresses.
Sugarcane coverage stood at 58.47 lakh hectares, compared with 58.87 lakh hectares last year. The area therefore declined by 0.40 lakh hectares. The reduction is relatively small compared with the change in rice acreage. Sugarcane is a longer-duration crop, so its area figures also need to be viewed separately from crops that complete their growing cycle within one Kharif season.
Among the crops listed in the ministry’s report, urad recorded a 2.68 lakh hectare increase, followed by bajra at 1.99 lakh hectares. Sesame gained 1.44 lakh hectares, while jowar increased by 0.97 lakh hectares. Tur also increased by 0.72 lakh hectares. These increases partly offset reductions in rice, maize, soybean, groundnut and other crops.
Why did total Kharif area fall?
The ministry’s data confirms the change in acreage but does not provide a single explanation for every crop or state. Rice declines were concentrated in several major producing states. Rainfall distribution can affect crop choices and sowing decisions, but acreage data alone cannot establish why an individual farmer changed crops. Local water availability, sowing conditions, prices and other farm-level factors can also influence decisions.
Not necessarily. Area is only one part of production. Yield per hectare can increase or decrease depending on weather, irrigation, seed quality, fertiliser use, pests and diseases. The September 4 data therefore provides an early picture of planting patterns rather than a final production estimate. Harvest figures will give a clearer picture of the actual crop output later in the season.
The increase in pulse area shows that more land was reported under pulses than during the corresponding period last year. The shift was driven mainly by urad and tur. But greater acreage does not guarantee higher farmer returns. Prices, yields, pest pressure, weather and procurement conditions will determine the economic outcome for growers.
What should farmers watch now?
Farmers should watch rainfall, crop condition, pest and disease reports and market prices as the Kharif season moves towards harvest. These factors can affect final yields and farm income. For crops with lower acreage, production may still remain stable if yields are higher. For crops with larger acreage, poor weather can still reduce output despite the increase in planted area.
India’s Kharif sowing pattern has changed from last year, with rice showing the largest decline and pulses recording a modest increase. The total area sown by September 4 was 1,086.31 lakh hectares, 1.6% lower than the corresponding period last year. The figures provide an early picture of what farmers planted, not what they will ultimately harvest. The next important indicators will be crop condition, yield and market prices as harvesting begins.
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