Early sowing gains expected to support food supply, while lower soybean and cotton acreage may keep select commodity markets on watch

Key Highlights

• Total Kharif crop area reaches 119.90 lakh hectares as of June 19, 2026, up 1.95 lakh hectares from the same period last year.
• Rice sowing increases by 4.26 lakh hectares year-on-year.
• Pulses acreage rises by 0.83 lakh hectares, led by moong.
• Shri Anna (millets) and coarse cereals register a significant increase of 2.61 lakh hectares.
• Oilseeds witness a marginal decline due to lower soybean acreage.
• Cotton sowing remains behind last year’s pace by 5.69 lakh hectares.

New Delhi | June 22, 2026

India’s Kharif sowing season has begun on a positive note, with the total cultivated area reaching 119.90 lakh hectares as of June 19, 2026—an increase of 1.95 lakh hectares compared to the corresponding period last year, according to the latest data released by the Ministry of Agriculture.

Among major crops, rice has recorded the sharpest increase, with sowing covering 12.36 lakh hectares, up from 8.09 lakh hectares during the same period in 2025. The early progress reflects favourable monsoon conditions across several agricultural regions.

Pulses have also posted healthy growth, with acreage expanding to 7.21 lakh hectares from 6.39 lakh hectares last year. The increase has been driven primarily by moong, while arhar has remained largely stable. However, urad cultivation has declined marginally.

The Government’s continued push for Shri Anna (millets) is reflected in sowing data, with coarse cereals covering 12.43 lakh hectares, an increase of 2.61 lakh hectares over the previous year. Bajra, maize and jowar have all registered higher acreage.

Oilseed cultivation has shown mixed trends. While groundnut and sunflower acreage has improved, soybean sowing is currently trailing last year’s levels, resulting in an overall decline in oilseed coverage.

Sugarcane and jute have registered marginal gains, whereas cotton acreage remains significantly below last year’s pace during the current sowing window.

Hospitality & Food Industry Impact

The increase in rice, pulses and millet cultivation is a positive development for India’s food service and hospitality industry. Higher acreage can improve raw material availability later in the season, helping stabilise procurement costs for restaurants, hotels, caterers and institutional kitchens.

The continued expansion of millet cultivation also supports the growing demand for healthy and sustainable menus. As more hotels and restaurants introduce millet-based dishes under wellness and regional cuisine offerings, stronger production could ensure better supply and price stability.

However, the lower acreage under soybean may keep edible oil prices under watch in the coming months, potentially affecting food preparation costs across restaurants and commercial kitchens. Similarly, reduced cotton sowing could have implications for textile availability, an important procurement segment for hotels purchasing linens, uniforms and hospitality fabrics.

Overall, the early Kharif sowing trend points towards improved agricultural output, supporting India’s food supply chain while offering greater stability for the hospitality, food processing and tourism sectors ahead of the festive and travel seasons.