Ministry of Agriculture Kharif Crop Progress Report 2026
The Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare released the progress of area coverage under Kharif crops as of August 7, 2026, showing a total sown area of 967.92 lakh hectares, which represents a decrease of 17.96 lakh hectares compared to the same period in 2025 when area stood at 985.89 lakh hectares. The current area remains below the normal area benchmark of 1104.46 lakh hectares (2020-21 to 2024-25 average) and the final area coverage of 1134.27 lakh hectares achieved in 2025.
Rice cultivation shows the most significant decline among major categories, with area sown at 344.78 lakh hectares compared to 360.67 lakh hectares in 2025, a decrease of 15.90 lakh hectares. Pulses category also declined to 103.78 lakh hectares from 105.73 lakh hectares last year, a reduction of 1.95 lakh hectares. Within pulses, arhar decreased by 2.61 lakh hectares to 37.53 lakh hectares, while urdbean showed an increase of 2.57 lakh hectares to 22.86 lakh hectares.
Shri Anna cum coarse cereals category recorded 168.50 lakh hectares, down 4.71 lakh hectares from 173.21 lakh hectares in 2025. Maize within this category decreased by 3.48 lakh hectares to 87.15 lakh hectares, while jowar showed a marginal increase of 0.22 lakh hectares to 12.82 lakh hectares.
The oilseeds category was the only major group showing positive growth, with total area reaching 180.20 lakh hectares, an increase of 5.19 lakh hectares over 175.01 lakh hectares in 2025. Groundnut led this growth with an increase of 3.71 lakh hectares to 46.82 lakh hectares, followed by sesamum which increased by 1.44 lakh hectares to 9.96 lakh hectares. Soybean, the largest oilseed crop, showed minimal growth of 0.26 lakh hectares to 119.92 lakh hectares.
Commercial crops showed mixed trends with sugarcane area at 58.31 lakh hectares, slightly lower than 58.62 lakh hectares in 2025 by 0.31 lakh hectares. Jute & Mesta area increased marginally by 0.12 lakh hectares to 6.34 lakh hectares, while cotton area decreased by 0.41 lakh hectares to 106.01 lakh hectares compared to 106.42 lakh hectares last year.