Kharif sowing has declined by nearly 23 percent compared to last year, driven by a widening rainfall deficit, sluggish monsoon progress, and lower reservoir levels, according to data released by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare.
Sowing area drops sharply
As of June 25, the total area under kharif crops stood at 182.72 lakh hectares, down from 236.46 lakh hectares during the same period last year—a decline of 53.74 lakh hectares, or roughly 22.7 percent. The shortfall has been observed across major crop categories including oilseeds, cotton, rice, and pulses.
Oilseeds recorded the steepest decline, with acreage falling by 19.42 lakh hectares to 16.99 lakh hectares from 36.41 lakh hectares a year ago. Within oilseeds, soybean sowing was the worst hit, down by 13.05 lakh hectares, followed by groundnut, which declined by 6.42 lakh hectares, the data showed.
Rice and cotton hit hard
Rice, the country’s most important kharif crop, has witnessed a significant setback. Paddy cultivation has covered just 25.75 lakh hectares, down from 34.41 lakh hectares a year ago, marking a decline of 8.65 lakh hectares, or around 25 percent. Cotton area has declined from 45.36 lakh hectares last year to 29.66 lakh hectares, a drop of 15.70 lakh hectares, or nearly 35 percent.
Sugarcane has been one of the few exceptions, with acreage increasing marginally from 56.64 lakh hectares to 57.31 lakh hectares.
Rainfall deficit and weather outlook
India is facing a 45 percent rainfall deficit in June 2026. The slow start to the monsoon has left large parts of the country with dry fields and inadequate soil moisture, forcing farmers to postpone sowing operations while waiting for widespread rainfall. While the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast heavy rainfall over Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Bihar, Odisha, and Vidarbha over the next few days, heatwave conditions continue in Bihar, Haryana, Delhi, and Uttar Pradesh, delaying sowing in some northern regions.
Meteorologists expect monsoon activity to strengthen during the first week of July as low-pressure systems develop over the Bay of Bengal and the monsoon trough shifts southward.
Reservoir levels add to concern
Reservoir levels have also added to the concern. Live storage across 166 major reservoirs is below last year’s level. Reservoirs are filled to 26.4 percent of capacity against 36 percent in the corresponding period last year, though they remain 5 percent above the five-year average.
Timely rainfall over the coming days could help farmers accelerate sowing, but if the deficit persists, it may affect crop yields, food production, and rural incomes in the months ahead.
