Topic
sowing
Commodities Indian govt sees limited El Nino impact on kharif crops as sowing deficit narrows
India's kharif sowing area reached 92% of normal by August 14, with the year-on-year deficit narrowing below 1%, according to The Hindu BusinessLine. Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said El Nino's impact on production is unlikely to be significant, though Karnataka and Telangana face water shortages. Monsoon rainfall remains 13% below normal, and forecasters warn of a widening deficit through September.
Commodities India's kharif area 21 lakh hectares less than year ago as sowing pace slows
India's total kharif sowing area stood at 1,016.57 lakh hectares as of August 14, about 21 lakh hectares less than a year ago, with the pace of sowing slowing as the monsoon turned 22 per cent deficient during August 8-14. Paddy acreage fell 3.7 per cent to 379.07 lakh hectares, while pulses and oilseeds also stayed below last year's levels, according to the Agriculture Ministry's weekly update.
Commodities India’s Pulses Acreage Nearly Matches Last Year’s Level on Monsoon Recovery
India's overall pulses acreage has almost caught up with last year's levels, aided by monsoon recovery, standing at 108.14 lakh hectares as of August 14 against 108.49 lakh hectares a year ago. Tur and moong area lag 4% on deficit rains in Karnataka and Maharashtra, but higher urad coverage and government stocks of 1.2 million tonnes ease supply concerns.
Commodities India fertilizer sales drop 13% in July on weak monsoon, shrinking kharif sowing
India's total fertilizer sales dropped 13% year-on-year to 77.44 lakh tonnes in July 2026, according to The Hindu Business Line, as kharif sowing area trailed and monsoon rainfall came in 12% below normal. Urea, DAP, MOP and complex fertilizer volumes all declined, raising concerns about crop yields. The government has set a kharif foodgrain production target of 176.16 million tonnes.
Commodities Kharif sowing area deficit narrows to below 2%, sugarcane coverage revised lower
India's kharif sowing area deficit narrowed to below 2 per cent as of August 7, with total coverage at 967.92 lakh hectares, the Agriculture Ministry said. Sugarcane acreage was revised lower to 58.31 lakh hectares from 58.62 lh a year ago, while monsoon rainfall stands at 88 per cent of normal.
Commodities Groundnut acreage up 9% as farmers in UP, MP expand area
Groundnut acreage in the ongoing kharif season rose nearly 9% to 46.82 lakh hectares as of August 7, driven by MSP procurement assurance and monsoon rains. Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh posted sharp gains, while Gujarat and Karnataka saw declines. Wholesale mandi prices eased to around ₹7,073 per quintal from ₹7,333 on July 15.
Commodities Late Rains Revive Kharif Hopes in Telangana as Sowing Data Shows Mixed Trend
Copious late rains in Telangana have revived kharif hopes after 23 of the state's 33 districts were classified as deficit, according to The Hindu BusinessLine. Sowing data as of July 29 shows paddy and maize area down year-on-year, while cotton and redgram are up. The state government still expects overall sowing area to fall 20-25 per cent and advises farmers against paddy.
Commodities India’s kharif sowing deficit shrinks to less than 3%, 81% of normal area covered
India's kharif sowing deficit narrowed to less than 3% as of July 31, with 894.22 lakh hectares planted, covering 81% of the normal area. A 23% weekly rainfall surplus improved soil conditions, lifting weekly plantings to 107 lakh hectares. Paddy and pulses remain below last year's levels, while oilseeds acreage moved above year-ago for the first time this season.
Commodities Fertiliser demand rebounds with revival in kharif sowing; urea continues to dominate sales
Fertiliser demand rebounded in the first half of July as kharif sowing recovered after a weather-induced slowdown, with sales reaching 41.09 lakh tonnes by July 17 against a projected 74.28 lt. Urea continued to dominate off-take at 25.86 lt, while the Agriculture Ministry projected August demand at 66.36 lt across the four major fertilisers.
Commodities India's soyabean acreage recovers as July rains boost Kharif sowing
India's soyabean acreage for Kharif 2026 reached 117.68 lakh ha by July 31, down 0.70% from a year earlier, according to Agriculture Ministry data. July rains boosted sowing in Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh, while SOPA pegged the crop area at 117.13 lakh ha. Crop condition is normal to good, with flowering underway.
Commodities India's 2026-27 pulses crop hinges on August-September rains, says IPGA chairman
India's 2026-27 kharif pulses crop size will depend on August-September rainfall rather than area sown, according to IPGA chairman Bimal Kothari. Sowing has picked up but overall acreage trails last year, with tur (pigeon pea) area down. Below-normal rains forecast could affect crop maturity, but current supply is abundant and prices are below MSP. Kothari warns that deficient rains could impact the rabi crop in 2027.
Commodities India's Kharif Sowing Deficit Narrows to Under 5% as 71% of Normal Area Covered
Indian farmers have narrowed the Kharif sowing deficit to less than 5% by July 24, covering 787.38 lakh hectares (71% of normal). While paddy, pulses, and oilseeds still trail last year's pace, the deficit has reduced sharply from 21% in early July. Agriculture scientists remain cautiously optimistic, though rainfall patterns in the next two months will be critical.
Commodities Urad Acreage in North India Rises 8% on Recent Rains, Sowing Accelerates
Urad (black matpe) acreage in India has increased 8% year-on-year to 18.67 lakh hectares as of July 24, 2026, driven by recent rains in northern states. While Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan saw gains, Maharashtra and Karnataka recorded sharp declines due to delayed monsoon. Trade sources expect higher northern output to offset southern shortfalls.
Commodities India’s moong sowing dips 11% on lower rainfall, likely to gather pace
India’s moong sowing has dropped 11% from the previous year due to lower rainfall in key states, according to government data. However, recent rains are expected to help acreage recover to at least last year’s level. Farmers continue to grow moong despite prices averaging 26% below the minimum support price.
Commodities Kharif Sowing Acreage Down 6% as Sowing Completes in 60% of Normal Area, Says Agriculture Ministry
India's kharif sowing acreage reached 531.25 lakh hectares as of July 17, down 6% from 632.69 lh a year ago, according to the Agriculture Ministry. The deficit narrowed from 21% in early July due to surplus monsoon rains. Paddy coverage is nearly on par, while pulses and oilseeds still lag. The government targets a foodgrain production of 176.16 mt for the season.
Commodities India's kharif sowing reaches 48% of normal area; paddy deficit narrows to 9%
As of July 10, India's kharif sowing covered 531.25 lakh hectares, 48% of the normal area and 16% lower year-on-year. Paddy transplanting deficit narrowed to 9% from 13% a week earlier, but pulses, oilseeds, and coarse cereals saw double-digit declines. Monsoon rainfall deficit stood at 19% for June 1-July 13, raising concerns for future sowing.
Manufacturing Kharif sowing drives Indian tractor sales past one lakh units in June 2026
India's tractor retail sales crossed the one-lakh-unit mark in June 2026, rising 25.3% year-on-year to 100,818 units, according to FADA. Mahindra & Mahindra, including its Swaraj brand, captured a combined 42.84% market share. Demand was boosted by kharif sowing preparations, improved farmer cash flow, and state subsidies in Odisha and Gujarat.
Commodities Reservoirs, sowing trend, next ‘low’ may disprove worst monsoon fears in India
Despite uneven June rainfall, India's reservoir storage in 166 major reservoirs stands close to normal at 47.72 billion cubic metres (bcm) as of July 2, against the normal of 48.40 bcm. A fresh low-pressure area is likely to form over the north Bay of Bengal within 5-6 days, potentially reviving widespread rainfall. Former IMD chief KJ Ramesh stresses that assessing monsoon health via reservoir storage and sowing acreages offers a truer picture than rainfall departures alone.
Commodities Monsoon recovery to support kharif sowing as rainfall activity improves: Report
India's monsoon rainfall has improved in recent weeks, with cumulative precipitation up to July 6 at 170.7 mm, 20% below the long period average. The recovery is expected to support kharif sowing, which stood at 35.1 million hectares as of July 5, down 20.8% year-on-year, according to an ICICI Bank report. Regional disparities persist, with East and Northeast India seeing a 41% deficit, while South India has 15% above normal.
Commodities Delayed Monsoon Cuts Marathwada Sowing Area by Nearly 18 Lakh Hectares
The sowing area across eight districts of Maharashtra's Marathwada region has shrunk by 17.87 lakh hectares compared to the same period last year, due to a delayed monsoon. Overall sowing is at just 58% of normal, with rainfall 13% below the expected average of 176 mm. The agriculture department advised farmers against sowing until adequate rainfall is received.
Commodities Soybean Sowing in India Gains Pace, Expected to Exceed Last Year's Levels: SOPA
Soybean planting in India is gaining pace after a delayed monsoon, with SOPA estimating acreage at 28.9 lakh hectares as of June 30, sharply higher than the Agriculture Ministry's 6.9 lakh hectares. The industry body expects total kharif 2026 acreage to surpass last year's levels, driven by favourable prices and adequate rainfall in key states like Madhya Pradesh.
Commodities Gujarat’s Kharif Sowing Slows Sharply as 82% Rain Deficit Keeps Farmers Off Fields
Gujarat has experienced an 82% rainfall deficit, bringing kharif sowing to a crawl. By end-June, only 12.71 lakh hectares were sown, 62% lower than last year and just 15% of normal acreage. Major crops like groundnut, cotton, and soybean have seen sharp declines, though cereal sowing increased slightly.
Commodities Kharif Sowing Slumps 23% as Delayed Monsoon Hits India's Key Crops; Reservoir Storage at 26%
Kharif sowing in India has slumped 23% to 182.72 lakh hectares as of June 25, 2026, compared to 236.46 lakh hectares a year ago, due to a delayed and deficient southwest monsoon. Key reservoirs are at 26.37% of full capacity, with 29 reservoirs below 50% of normal storage. Paddy acreage fell 25.17%, pulses 30.47%, and oilseeds 53.33%, raising concerns for agricultural output.
Commodities India’s kharif acreage down 23% as deficient monsoon threatens crop output
India’s kharif sowing area has fallen 23% to 182.72 lakh hectares as of June 25, compared to 236.46 lakh hectares a year ago, driven by a 42% monsoon deficit. Sugarcane is the only major crop showing an increase, while paddy, cotton, soybean, and pulses report significant declines. The India Meteorological Department expects monsoon to advance into more regions in the coming days, but July rains will be critical for recovery.
Commodities Central India faces critical two-week sowing window as monsoon revival offers brief relief
Satellite imagery shows monsoon revival along India's west coast, offering a two-week window (June 22-July 6) for sowing in rain-deficient Central India. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) and European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) project rainfall weakening significantly after July 6, with deficits exceeding 60% in parts of the region. Farmers face uncertainty as the best sowing opportunity narrows.
Commodities India’s Kharif Sowing Tops 120 Lakh Hectares, Monsoon Deficiency Not Yet Impacting Acreage
India’s kharif sowing area reached 119.90 lakh hectares as of June 19, up 1.7% from a year ago, despite a 43% monsoon rainfall deficit. Cotton, soybean and urad acreage are lower, while paddy, pulses and coarse cereals show higher coverage. The India Meteorological Department forecasts monsoon advance into new regions by June 24.
Commodities Kharif Pulses Sowing Off to a Weak Start: Acreage Down 43% as of June 12
Kharif pulses sowing in India has started weakly with acreage down 43% as of June 12 due to a delayed and deficient monsoon. Tur acreage fell 57%, urad 22%, and moong 55% compared to last year. Farmers in key regions await rains, while the government holds buffer stocks of 4.3-4.5 million tonnes to keep prices in check.
Commodities Gujarat Kharif Sowing Boosted by Early Narmada Water Release
Gujarat's Kharif sowing season begins as the state government releases Narmada irrigation water early to aid farmers. With over 1.73 lakh hectares already sown, the move supports critical early crop growth.
Trade India Seeks 1.7 Million Tons of Urea Amid Supply Disruptions
India has issued a tender to import 1.7 million tons of urea due to disrupted gas supplies from the Middle East. The tender, managed by National Fertilizers Ltd., aims to secure fertilizer ahead of the monsoon sowing season.