India's kharif sowing for the 2026 season has reached 531.25 lakh hectares (lh) as of July 10, representing 48% of the normal area of 1104.46 lh, according to data released by the Agriculture Ministry. This is 16% less than the 632.69 lh covered during the same period last year. The pace of planting slowed as monsoon rainfall weakened in key states, with only over 180 lh added last week compared to nearly 190 lh a year ago.
Kharif Sowing Progress
The overall sowing deficit has narrowed from earlier weeks, but the coverage of major crops remains below last year's levels. The main summer cereal, paddy, saw its deficit shrink to 9% as of July 10, against 13% until July 5. Paddy has been transplanted on 114.69 lh compared to 125.53 lh a year ago. However, pulses and oilseeds acreage continued to lag significantly.
Crop-Wise Acreage Details
A sharp fall in pulses and oilseeds sowing is a concern for India's import-dependent domestic demand. The area under all pulses reached 56.63 lh against 73.85 lh a year ago. Oilseeds were planted on 117.83 lh versus 149.18 lh. Coarse/nutri cereals coverage was 21% lower at 98.69 lh (down from 127.30 lh). The table below compares key crop acreages:
| Crop | Acreage (lh) as of July 10, 2026 | Acreage (lh) same period 2025 | Change (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paddy | 114.69 | 125.53 | -9% |
| Pulses (total) | 56.63 | 73.85 | -23% |
| - Arhar | 19.54 | 28.03 | -30% |
| - Moong | 21.52 | 24.08 | -11% |
| - Urad | 9.34 | 13.29 | -30% |
| Oilseeds (total) | 117.83 | 149.18 | -21% |
| - Soyabean | 90.51 | 107.72 | -16% |
| - Groundnut | 23.40 | 35.45 | -34% |
| Cotton | 79.54 | 94.00 | -15% |
| Coarse/nutri cereals | 98.69 | 127.30 | -21% |
| - Jowar | 6.88 | 9.01 | -24% |
| - Bajra | 33.76 | 45.98 | -27% |
| - Maize | 55.97 | 69.56 | -20% |
| Sugarcane | 57.58 | 56.72 | +2% |
| Jute & mesta | 6.28 | 6.16 | +2% |
Monsoon and Rainfall Impact
After the monsoon revival from July 1, the overall rainfall deficit for the June 1-July 13 period stood at 19%, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). Seasonal rainfall deficit until July 10 was 14%. However, the pan-India deficit during July 11-13 worsened to 42%, and sources indicated the gap may widen further as no rainfall is predicted in major agricultural states over the next few days. This could hamper further sowing expansion.
Government Targets and Reservoir Levels
The government has set a kharif production target of 176.16 million tonnes (mt) of foodgrains, comprising 123.15 mt of rice, 8.4 mt of pulses, 31.04 mt of maize, and 13.56 mt of nutri-cereals. The oilseeds target is 28.92 mt, with soyabean at 14.85 mt and groundnut at 11.35 mt. On the water storage front, the Central Water Commission reported that major reservoirs were filled to 32.38% of capacity (59.443 billion cubic metres out of 183.565 BCM) as of July 9, up from 26% a week earlier. Adequate reservoir levels may support late-sown crops if rains resume.
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