India’s kharif sowing season has crossed 1,110.80 lakh hectares, posting a 14.92 lakh hectare increase over 2024-25, according to data from the Department of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare.

Rice Holds Ground as Food Security Anchor

Rice continues to anchor India’s food security with 438.51 lakh hectares under cultivation, 8.45 lakh hectares more than last year.

Maize Drives Coarse Cereals to Record Gains

Coarse cereals posted the sharpest expansion at 192.91 lakh hectares, driven by a massive 10.54 lakh hectare jump in maize and rising acreage of small millets, signaling the country’s pivot toward climate-resilient crops.

Pulses Post Modest Increase

Pulses recorded a modest rise to 118.06 lakh hectares, with urad and kulthi offsetting declines in tur, moong, and moth bean.

Oilseeds Slide Despite Groundnut Gains

Oilseeds were the only drag on the acreage tally, falling by 5.12 lakh hectares due to a steep contraction in soybean and sesamum, though groundnut and castor seed registered small gains.

Sugarcane Expands, Cotton Contracts

Sugarcane expanded to 57.31 lakh hectares on strong ethanol blending demand. Cotton slipped to 109.64 lakh hectares, reflecting weaker price signals and pest-related stress, while jute and mesta acreage saw a mild contraction.

Outlook: Strong Foodgrain Prospects, Oilseed Concerns

Overall, the 2025-26 kharif season signals robust foodgrain prospects, led by rice and maize, but the oilseed shortfall may keep edible oil imports elevated and markets closely watching yield performance through the late-monsoon withdrawal.