Monsoon Sowing Crosses 826 Lakh Hectares as of July 24; Sugarcane and Jute Register Growth While Rice, Soybean and Cotton See Lower Coverage

India’s Kharif sowing season has covered 826.19 lakh hectares as of 24 July 2026, according to the latest data released by the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare. While sowing activity continues across major agricultural states, the overall cultivated area remains 38.82 lakh hectares lower than the corresponding period last year.

Among the major crops, rice, pulses, coarse cereals, oilseeds and cotton have recorded lower area coverage compared to the same period in 2025. In contrast, sugarcane and jute & mesta have registered modest growth.

Key Highlights

• Total Kharif sowing: 826.19 lakh hectares (as on 24 July 2026)
• Overall sowing is 38.82 lakh hectares lower than the same period in 2025.
• Rice: 234.43 lakh ha (down 6.19 lakh ha)
• Pulses: 84.57 lakh ha (down 6.90 lakh ha)
• Shri Anna (Coarse Cereals): 142.21 lakh ha (down 19.28 lakh ha)
• Oilseeds: 163.54 lakh ha (down 3.45 lakh ha)
• Cotton: 98.72 lakh ha (down 3.99 lakh ha)
• Sugarcane: 57.58 lakh ha (up 0.86 lakh ha)
• Jute & Mesta: 6.32 lakh ha (up 0.13 lakh ha)

Rice Sowing Continues, But Lags Behind Last Year

Rice, India’s largest Kharif crop, has been sown across 234.43 lakh hectares, compared to 240.62 lakh hectares during the corresponding period in 2025, reflecting a decline of 6.19 lakh hectares.

Pulses Record Mixed Trend

Total pulses have covered 84.57 lakh hectares, around 6.90 lakh hectares lower than last year.

Among individual pulse crops:

• Arhar (Tur): 31.17 lakh ha
• Moong: 26.89 lakh ha
• Urad: 18.67 lakh ha (higher than last year)
• Moth bean: 5.08 lakh ha
• Kulthi: 0.17 lakh ha

Urad is one of the few pulse crops to register an increase over last year’s sowing.

Millets and Maize See Significant Decline

Area under Shri Anna (Coarse Cereals) stands at 142.21 lakh hectares, a decline of 19.28 lakh hectares compared to last year.

Major crops include:

• Maize: 77.79 lakh ha
• Bajra: 49.54 lakh ha
• Jowar: 11.07 lakh ha
• Ragi: 1.56 lakh ha
• Small Millets: 2.26 lakh ha

Maize and Bajra account for most of the decline in this category.

Oilseed Sowing Slightly Lower

Oilseeds have been sown over 163.54 lakh hectares, down 3.45 lakh hectares year-on-year.

Major crops include:

• Soybean: 113.65 lakh ha
• Groundnut: 40.20 lakh ha
• Sesamum: 8.03 lakh ha
• Castor: 0.61 lakh ha
• Sunflower: 0.89 lakh ha

Soybean remains the dominant oilseed crop despite lower acreage than last year.

Sugarcane Shows Positive Growth

Sugarcane continues to perform well, covering 57.58 lakh hectares, an increase of 0.86 lakh hectares over the corresponding period last year.

Jute & Mesta have also recorded a slight increase, reaching 6.32 lakh hectares.

Cotton Area Moderately Lower

Cotton sowing has reached 98.72 lakh hectares, compared with 102.71 lakh hectares during the same period in 2025, reflecting a decline of 3.99 lakh hectares.

Hospitality, Travel & Tourism Impact

Although the data reflects an early-stage sowing update, it holds significance for India’s hospitality and food service industry.

Food Supply Outlook

Lower acreage under rice, pulses and oilseeds may influence the future availability and pricing of staple ingredients widely used by hotels, restaurants, caterers and institutional kitchens if the trend continues through the season.

Menu Planning for HoReCa

Hospitality operators, particularly those focusing on regional cuisines, may closely monitor crop progress as it can impact procurement costs for grains, edible oils and pulses in the coming months.

Support for Culinary Tourism

Healthy sugarcane production and continued cultivation of diverse crops help sustain India’s rich regional food traditions, supporting culinary tourism experiences built around local ingredients.

Agri-Tourism Opportunities

As Kharif cultivation progresses, many rural destinations offering farm stays and agricultural experiences could see increased visitor interest during the harvest season later in the year.

Why It Matters

The latest Kharif sowing figures indicate that while monsoon planting is progressing steadily, overall acreage remains below last year’s levels across several major crops. The coming weeks will be crucial in determining whether sowing catches up, especially for rice, pulses, oilseeds and coarse cereals. The final acreage will influence agricultural output, food supply chains and sectors such as food processing, hospitality and tourism that rely on stable agricultural production.