Department of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare on Monday released the progress report on area coverage under Kharif crops as of August 8, 2025. India’s Kharif sowing season has gained momentum this year, with the total cultivated area reaching 995.63 lakh hectares, an increase of 38.48 lakh hectares compared to 957.15 lakh hectares during the same period last year.
Country’s most widely grown Kharif crop, rice, has seen the highest increase. This year, it has been sown over 364.81 lakh hectares, 39.45 lakh hectares more than last year’s 325.36 lakh hectares. The steady rise in rice cultivation reflects a favourable monsoon and strong market demand in major producing states.
Pulses have seen a marginal overall rise of 0.16 lakh hectares compared to last year, with mixed trends among varieties. While Moong and Urad have posted slight increases, Tur (Arhar) has declined by about 2.02 lakh hectares.
Coarse cereals have performed well, expanding by 7.77 lakh hectares. Maize has shown the most notable increase, with an additional 8.74 lakh hectares under cultivation, indicating growing farmer interest.
On the other hand, oilseeds have recorded a decline of 6.82 lakh hectares, with soybean alone accounting for a 4.73 lakh hectare reduction. Cotton has also contracted by 3.53 lakh hectares. Meanwhile, sugarcane continues to expand, with 1.64 lakh hectares more under cultivation than last year, supported by stable returns and assured procurement in several states.
Overall, the figures paint a largely positive picture for the ongoing Kharif season. While some crops are lagging behind last year’s acreage, the significant growth in total sown area points to strong prospects for agricultural output in 2025-26, provided the monsoon remains favorable during the remaining sowing period.
