The Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare released the progress of area coverage under Kharif crops as of July 17, 2026, showing a total sown area of 658.19 lakh hectares, which represents a decrease of 42.28 lakh hectares compared to the same period in 2025 when the area stood at 700.47 lakh hectares. The data is presented against normal area (2020-21 to 2024-25 average) of 1104.46 lakh hectares and final area coverage for 2025 of 1134.27 lakh hectares.
Rice cultivation covers 166.41 lakh hectares, showing a marginal decrease of 1.41 lakh hectares from last year's 167.83 lakh hectares, against a normal area of 412.00 lakh hectares and final 2025 coverage of 446.70 lakh hectares. Pulses have experienced a significant decline with total area of 69.23 lakh hectares, down 12.29 lakh hectares from 81.52 lakh hectares in 2025. Within pulses, Arhar shows 24.80 lakh hectares (down 5.36 lakh ha), Urd bean at 13.51 lakh hectares (down 0.85 lakh ha), Moong bean at 23.98 lakh hectares (down 2.97 lakh ha), Kulthi at 0.15 lakh hectares (up 0.02 lakh ha), Moth bean at 4.62 lakh hectares (down 2.87 lakh ha), and other pulses at 2.16 lakh hectares (down 0.26 lakh ha).
Coarse cereals show substantial reduction with total area of 119.03 lakh hectares, down 15.06 lakh hectares from 134.09 lakh hectares in 2025. The breakdown includes Jowar at 8.74 lakh hectares (down 1.25 lakh ha), Bajra at 39.98 lakh hectares (down 9.08 lakh ha), Ragi at 1.06 lakh hectares (down 0.40 lakh ha), small millets at 1.37 lakh hectares (down 0.72 lakh ha), and maize at 67.89 lakh hectares (down 3.61 lakh ha). Oilseeds cultivation stands at 147.09 lakh hectares, decreasing by 8.63 lakh hectares from 155.72 lakh hectares in 2025. Groundnut covers 34.52 lakh hectares (down 3.17 lakh ha), soybean at 106.02 lakh hectares (down 5.02 lakh ha), sunflower at 0.88 lakh hectares (up 0.34 lakh ha), sesamum at 5.12 lakh hectares (down 0.84 lakh ha), niger at 0.08 lakh hectares (up 0.05 lakh ha), castor at 0.40 lakh hectares (down 0.03 lakh ha), and other oilseeds at 0.07 lakh hectares (up 0.02 lakh ha).
Sugarcane shows a positive trend with 57.58 lakh hectares sown, increasing by 0.86 lakh hectares from 56.72 lakh hectares in 2025. Jute & Mesta records 6.32 lakh hectares, up 0.13 lakh hectares from 6.19 lakh hectares last year. Cotton cultivation stands at 92.53 lakh hectares, decreasing by 5.87 lakh hectares from 98.40 lakh hectares in 2025.