Area Under Zaid Crops in Andhra Pradesh Reaches 27.60 Lakh Hectares

02-Apr-2026 01:31 PM

Vijayawada. In Andhra Pradesh—a key agricultural producing state in South India—the area under cultivation for crops during the extended Rabi season (the summer 'Zaid' season) has surged this year, reaching 27.60 lakh hectares. This represents a 47 percent increase over the sowing area of ​​18.80 lakh hectares recorded during the corresponding period last year. According to the State Agriculture Department, this acreage also exceeds the normal average area of ​​20.70 lakh hectares.

According to the Agriculture Department's report, compared to last year, the area under paddy cultivation in Andhra Pradesh during the current year jumped from 6.72 lakh hectares to 9.19 lakh hectares; the area under maize surged from 1.86 lakh hectares to 5.02 lakh hectares; and the sowing area for sorghum (Jowar) increased from 79,000 hectares to 1.15 lakh hectares.

Similarly, the area under Rabi-season pulse crops also expanded from 7.29 lakh hectares last year to 9.20 lakh hectares this year. Within this category, the sowing area for Bengal gram (Chana) surged from 2.87 lakh hectares to 4.12 lakh hectares; the area for Black gram (Urad) increased from 2.85 lakh hectares to 3.34 lakh hectares; and the area for Green gram (Moong) improved from 57,000 hectares to 79,000 hectares. These figures are recorded as of April 1, 2026.

The area under oilseed crops also expanded during this period, rising from 75,000 hectares to 1.37 lakh hectares. Specifically, the sowing area for groundnut surged from 52,000 hectares to 92,000 hectares, while the area for sesame improved from 19,000 hectares to 20,000 hectares.