Rice, Oilseeds, Coarse Cereals and Cotton Record Lower Coverage, While Pulses Gain 1.84 Lakh Hectares

New Delhi, September 8, 2026: India’s total Kharif crop area coverage stood at 1,086.31 lakh hectares as of September 4, 2026, according to the latest data released by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare. While overall Kharif coverage remains below the corresponding period of last year, pulses and Jute & Mesta recorded higher acreage, indicating shifts in crop patterns across major agricultural states.

The data showed that rice, coarse cereals, oilseeds, sugarcane and cotton registered lower area coverage compared with the same period last year, while pulses recorded a modest increase.

Key Highlights

• Total Kharif area coverage: 1,086.31 lakh hectares as of September 4, 2026.
• Pulses: 117.13 lakh hectares, up 1.84 lakh hectares year-on-year.
• Jute & Mesta: 6.34 lakh hectares, up 0.10 lakh hectares.
• Rice: 421.82 lakh hectares, down 16.37 lakh hectares.
• Shri Anna & Coarse Cereals: 181.39 lakh hectares, down 1.09 lakh hectares.
• Oilseeds: 191.99 lakh hectares, down 1.07 lakh hectares.
• Sugarcane: 58.47 lakh hectares, down 0.40 lakh hectares.
• Cotton: 109.17 lakh hectares, down 0.69 lakh hectares.
• Soybean: 121.82 lakh hectares, compared with 122.98 lakh hectares last year.
• Bajra: 64.86 lakh hectares, an increase of 1.99 lakh hectares.
• Urad: 25.15 lakh hectares, up 2.68 lakh hectares.

Pulses Lead Growth in Kharif Acreage

Pulses emerged as one of the key positive indicators, with coverage rising to 117.13 lakh hectares from 115.30 lakh hectares during the corresponding period last year.

The largest increases were reported in Uttar Pradesh (+3.97 lakh hectares), Jharkhand (+0.98 lakh hectares), Telangana (+0.90 lakh hectares), Rajasthan (+0.57 lakh hectares) and Madhya Pradesh (+0.38 lakh hectares).

Within pulses, Urad coverage increased by 2.68 lakh hectares, while Tur and Moth Bean also recorded gains. Moong, however, declined by 1.04 lakh hectares.

Rice Area Declines by 16.37 Lakh Hectares

Rice remained the largest crop by acreage, with 421.82 lakh hectares under coverage, compared with 438.19 lakh hectares last year.

The decline was particularly pronounced in Karnataka, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Jharkhand and Maharashtra. Karnataka recorded a reduction of 4.28 lakh hectares, followed by Telangana at 3.61 lakh hectares.

The shift in rice acreage will remain significant for the wider food supply chain, given the crop’s importance to domestic consumption, food processing and hospitality procurement.

Millets and Coarse Cereals Show Mixed Trends

Coverage under Shri Anna and coarse cereals stood at 181.39 lakh hectares, marginally below the 182.48 lakh hectares recorded last year.

While Karnataka and Maharashtra reported substantial declines, increases were recorded in Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.

Bajra acreage rose by 1.99 lakh hectares, while Jowar increased by 0.97 lakh hectares. Maize, on the other hand, declined by 2.99 lakh hectares.

Oilseeds Remain Broadly Stable

Oilseed coverage stood at 191.99 lakh hectares, a marginal decline of 1.07 lakh hectares from last year.

Soybean acreage was at 121.82 lakh hectares, while groundnut coverage stood at 49.61 lakh hectares. Sesamum recorded an increase of 1.44 lakh hectares, reaching 10.94 lakh hectares.

Higher oilseed coverage in Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh partly offset declines in Rajasthan and Gujarat.

Jute & Mesta and Cotton Record Diverging Trends

Jute & Mesta coverage increased to 6.34 lakh hectares from 6.24 lakh hectares last year, supported by higher coverage in Bihar and West Bengal.

Cotton acreage, meanwhile, stood at 109.17 lakh hectares, down 0.69 lakh hectares. Rajasthan, Haryana and Punjab recorded declines, while Telangana and Gujarat reported higher coverage.

---

Impact on Hospitality, Food and Travel & Tourism

The Kharif acreage data has implications beyond agriculture, particularly for the food, hospitality, restaurant and tourism ecosystem, where crop availability influences ingredient sourcing, food costs and regional culinary offerings.

Food & Hospitality Supply Chains

Changes in rice, pulses, oilseeds, maize and sugarcane acreage could influence future availability and pricing of key food commodities. For hotels, restaurants, caterers and institutional kitchens, these trends can affect procurement planning and menu costs as the harvest cycle progresses.

The increase in pulses acreage is particularly relevant for India’s foodservice sector, where dals, lentils and other pulse-based preparations are central to everyday menus.

Millet and Regional Cuisine Opportunities

The continued sizeable acreage under bajra, jowar, ragi and other coarse cereals can support the growing focus on millet-based menus, healthier food formats and regional Indian cuisine.

For hospitality businesses, this could translate into opportunities around millet-led breakfast menus, traditional recipes, wellness cuisine and locally sourced dining experiences.

Culinary and Agri-Tourism

Regional variations in crop cultivation can also strengthen farm-to-table experiences, agri-tourism and culinary tourism. Destinations known for particular crops or agricultural traditions can potentially build tourism experiences around local produce, farming communities, food processing and regional cuisine.

Industry Takeaway

The latest Kharif acreage figures point to a mixed agricultural outlook, with pulses and Jute & Mesta gaining ground while rice and several major commercial crops record lower coverage.

For the hospitality and food industry, the key watchpoints will be commodity availability, food inflation, regional sourcing and the evolution of millet- and pulse-based culinary offerings as the Kharif harvest progresses.