Wednesday, 18 June 2025
India’s Kharif sowing season has begun on a strong note, with paddy cultivation registering a 13 per cent increase as of June 13 compared to the same period last year, according to the latest data from the Department of Agriculture.
Paddy, a major Kharif crop, has been sown across 4.53 lakh hectares so far this season, up from 4 lakh hectares in the corresponding period of 2024. The early surge in sowing is seen as a positive indicator, especially following concerns about weather variability during the monsoon season.
The sowing data, released on Tuesday, reflects trends across major foodgrain and non-foodgrain crops. Pulses acreage has grown notably to 3.07 lakh hectares, compared to 2.6 lakh hectares last year.
Shri Anna (millets) and other coarse cereals, however, remained largely stable with sowing reported at 5.89 lakh hectares — a marginal dip from 5.9 lakh hectares a year ago.
In the oilseeds category, sowing has shown a sharp rise to 2.05 lakh hectares, up from 1.5 lakh hectares during the same period in 2024, reflecting strong farmer interest amid better market prices and policy push under the oilseed mission.
Sugarcane cultivation has also edged up slightly, reaching 55.07 lakh hectares compared to 54.88 lakh hectares last year.
Cotton sowing, in contrast, has seen a marginal dip, with acreage at 13.19 lakh hectares, slightly lower than 13.28 lakh hectares during the same time in the previous year.
Overall, the total area under Kharif crops has increased to 89.29 lakh hectares as on June 13, 2025, compared to 87.81 lakh hectares at this time last year — indicating a positive start to the season, buoyed by timely rainfall in key sowing regions.
The India Meteorological Department has forecast a normal monsoon for 2025, which could support further sowing expansion and yield gains across regions in the coming weeks.
