Overall coverage rises to 21.30 lakh hectares as farmers pivot toward groundnut and coarse cereals

India’s summer crop sowing has gathered pace, with total area coverage reaching 21.30 lakh hectares as on February 20, 2026, compared to 20.38 lakh hectares during the corresponding period last year — a year-on-year increase of 0.92 lakh hectares, or roughly 4.5 per cent.

The latest data signals steady momentum across key crop categories, particularly oilseeds, pulses and coarse cereals, even as rice coverage remains unchanged on a year-on-year basis.

Oilseeds Lead Expansion

Oilseeds recorded the sharpest increase in acreage. Area sown rose to 1.24 lakh hectares, up from 0.77 lakh hectares in the same period last year — an expansion of 0.46 lakh hectares, representing nearly 60 per cent growth.

Groundnut accounted for the bulk of the increase, with coverage rising by 0.44 lakh hectares year-on-year. Sunflower and sesamum recorded marginal gains, while other oilseeds showed incremental additions.

The surge in oilseed sowing reflects continued policy emphasis on import substitution and edible oil self-sufficiency.

Coarse Cereals Gain Traction

Area under Shree Anna (millets) and coarse cereals rose to 1.38 lakh hectares, up from 1.08 lakh hectares a year earlier, marking a 0.30 lakh hectare increase.

Maize led the category with a 0.17 lakh hectare increase, followed by ragi and jowar. Bajra registered a marginal dip of 0.03 lakh hectares, but overall momentum in the segment remains positive, aligned with sustained focus on nutri-cereals and climate-resilient crops.

Pulses Show Moderate Uptick

Total pulses coverage reached 0.91 lakh hectares, compared to 0.76 lakh hectares last year — a rise of 0.15 lakh hectares.

Blackgram posted a stronger increase relative to greengram, while other pulses contributed modestly. The uptick supports ongoing efforts to strengthen domestic pulse production and manage price volatility.

Rice Stable; Overall Coverage Expands

Rice coverage stood at 17.78 lakh hectares, unchanged from the corresponding period last year. While rice remains the dominant summer crop in acreage terms, incremental growth this season has been driven primarily by diversification toward oilseeds and coarse cereals.

Notably, total current coverage of 21.30 lakh hectares remains significantly below the normal summer area of 75.37 lakh hectares and the final summer area of 83.92 lakh hectares in 2025, indicating that sowing is still in progress and further expansion is expected in the coming weeks.

Diversification Momentum Visible

The data suggests a gradual structural shift within the summer cropping pattern. Higher growth in oilseeds and millets compared to rice points toward diversification trends influenced by policy incentives, market signals and climate considerations.

If the current trajectory continues, summer 2026 could witness stronger acreage under oilseeds and coarse cereals relative to last year, reinforcing broader objectives of nutritional security, crop diversification and import reduction.

The coming weeks will be critical in determining whether the pace of sowing sustains and how weather conditions influence final acreage outcomes.

— Suchetana Choudhury (suchetana.choudhuri@agrospectrumindia.com)