Weak Monsoon Delays Kharif Sowing Across India by Amit Gupta, Kedia Advisory
Weak Monsoon Delays Kharif Sowing Across India
India's kharif sowing has declined 23% year-on-year as a 42% rainfall deficiency up to June 29 disrupted planting activities across major agricultural states. Total sowing reached 182.72 lakh hectares compared with 236.46 lakh hectares a year earlier. Paddy, pulses, oilseeds, cotton, soybean, maize, and groundnut all registered lower acreage, while sugarcane remained the only major crop to record an increase. Cotton acreage fell 35%, and soybean planting dropped sharply by nearly 65%. The India Meteorological Department expects the southwest monsoon to advance further, with July remaining the most crucial month for improving sowing progress.
Key Highlights
- India's kharif sowing is down 23% due to a 42% monsoon rainfall deficiency.
- Total cropped area reached 182.72 lakh hectares versus 236.46 lakh hectares last year.
- Cotton acreage declined 35%, while soybean sowing dropped to 6.92 lakh hectares.
- Paddy, pulses, oilseeds, maize, and groundnut also reported lower planting.
- IMD expects further monsoon advancement, making July critical for kharif sowing.
India's kharif sowing has witnessed a slow start as deficient monsoon rainfall continues to affect planting across major agricultural regions. With rainfall remaining 42% below normal as of June 29, farmers have delayed sowing of several key crops, raising concerns over production prospects if weather conditions fail to improve during the critical planting window.
According to official data, kharif crop coverage reached 182.72 lakh hectares as of June 25, down 23% from 236.46 lakh hectares during the corresponding period last year. The current coverage represents only 16.5% of the normal seasonal sowing area of 1,104.46 lakh hectares, compared with more than 21% achieved by the same time last year. Officials remain hopeful that improved rainfall over the next two weeks could accelerate planting, although matching last year's pace may prove challenging.
Among major crops, paddy acreage declined to 25.75 lakh hectares from 34.41 lakh hectares a year earlier. Pulses sowing dropped to 14.92 lakh hectares, while oilseed acreage nearly halved to 16.99 lakh hectares. Cotton recorded one of the sharpest declines, with acreage falling 35% to 29.66 lakh hectares. Soybean sowing also witnessed a steep decline to 6.92 lakh hectares from 19.97 lakh hectares, while groundnut acreage fell to 8.87 lakh hectares.
Within the pulse segment, pigeon pea (arhar), urad, and moong all registered lower sowing, while among coarse cereals, only jowar showed higher acreage compared to last year. Bajra, maize, and ragi remained below previous year's levels, reflecting the uneven progress of the monsoon.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has indicated favorable conditions for further advancement of the southwest monsoon across Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, and Jammu & Kashmir over the coming days. The pace of rainfall during July will be crucial in determining the final acreage and production outlook for the kharif season.
A sustained revival in monsoon rainfall during July will be essential to accelerate kharif sowing, improve crop coverage, and reduce risks to India's agricultural production during the current season.
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