Decline of approximately 1.7 million hectares in paddy cultivation area

14-Sep-2026 05:46 PM

New Delhi. Compared to last year, the total area under Kharif crops has seen a decline of 1.605 million hectares this year; notably, the area under paddy alone has shrunk by an even larger margin—approximately 1.7 million hectares. This overall figure is the result of fluctuations (decreases and increases) in the acreage of various other crops. Paddy requires the most water among crops because it is predominantly cultivated through transplanting rather than direct sowing.

According to government data, the area under paddy—the primary food grain of the Kharif season—stood at 42.681 million hectares as of September 11, which is 1.697 million hectares less than the 44.378 million hectares recorded during the same period last year. Paddy transplanting faced significant hurdles due to a very weak monsoon in June, and the acreage has lagged behind last year's figures ever since. While the area saw considerable recovery thanks to rainfall in July and August, it still remained well below the previous year's level.

It is worth noting that the paddy cultivation area had surged to an all-time high during the 2025-26 Kharif season, which makes the current year's acreage appear smaller by comparison. In fact, the current area remains significantly higher than the five-year average.