Kharif Sowing Near Normal, Paddy and Maize Lead Gains by Amit Gupta, Kedia Advisory
Kharif crops sowing has nearly reached the normal coverage area, standing at 98% of the targeted 1,097 lakh hectares (lh). Total sowing has touched 1,073.98 lh, about 4% higher than last year. Paddy leads with 7.6% higher acreage at 420.41 lh, while maize acreage jumped 11.7%. Pulses have shown mixed performance, with urad and moong higher but arhar slightly lower. Oilseeds acreage continues to trail, down 2.8%, with declines in soybean and groundnut. Cotton planting has also dropped 2.6%. Meanwhile, sugarcane and jute sowing is complete. The government is closely monitoring yields amid uneven trends across crops.
Key Highlights
* Kharif sowing reached 1,073.98 lh, 4% higher than last year.
* Paddy acreage up 7.6% to 420.41 lh.
* Maize sowing surged 11.7% while millet areas remained flat.
* Oilseeds acreage slipped 2.8%, with soybean and groundnut declining.
* Cotton acreage fell 2.6%, while sugarcane and jute sowing completed.
Kharif crop sowing has made steady progress this season, with the total coverage area reaching 1,073.98 lakh hectares (lh) as of August 22, nearly 98% of the normal 1,097 lh. This marks a 4% increase compared to the same period last year, reflecting strong planting momentum in certain crops despite weather and regional challenges.
Paddy, the main cereal of the Kharif season, has led the expansion with acreage rising 7.6% to 420.41 lh from 390.80 lh a year ago. Coarse cereals have also supported the gains, with maize acreage jumping 11.7% to 93.34 lh, while millets like jowar, bajra, and ragi remained largely steady. Pulses presented a mixed trend: urad acreage increased by 6.9% and moong by 1.3%, but arhar trailed 1.8% lower.
In contrast, oilseeds have weighed on the overall sowing momentum. The area under oilseeds slipped 2.8% to 182.38 lh, largely due to a 3.8% drop in soybean sowing and a 2.7% fall in groundnut acreage. Sunflower cultivation also declined by 9%. Cotton acreage fell 2.6% year-on-year to 108.47 lh, adding pressure on the fiber crop outlook.
Meanwhile, sugarcane and jute sowing have been completed, with areas reaching 57.31 lh and 5.54 lh respectively. The government remains watchful of yield prospects, particularly as acreage growth has slowed in recent weeks compared to early August.
In conclusion, kharif sowing is nearing completion with strong gains in cereals, but weakness in oilseeds and cotton warrants close monitoring of yields and future price performance.
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