Kharif Crop Acreage in Andhra Pradesh Lags Behind Last Year

20-Aug-2026 10:48 AM

Vijayawada: Despite an increase in the acreage of tur (pigeon pea), urad (black gram), and cotton, the total area under Kharif crops in the South Indian state of Andhra Pradesh is trailing behind last year's figures due to a decline in the sowing area for crops such as paddy, maize, and soybean. By August 19, the total area under Kharif crops had reached 18.90 lakh hectares, which is 1.13 lakh hectares less than the 20.03 lakh hectares sown during the same period last year.

According to data from the State Agriculture Department, compared to the previous year, the area under paddy in Andhra Pradesh during the current Kharif season dropped from 10.69 lakh hectares to 9.43 lakh hectares; the acreage for coarse cereals fell from 1.79 lakh hectares to 1.33 lakh hectares; and the sowing area for oilseeds slipped from 1.74 lakh hectares to 1.72 lakh hectares. Conversely, the area under pulses increased from 1.91 lakh hectares to 2.42 lakh hectares, and cotton acreage rose from 3.76 lakh hectares to 3.84 lakh hectares. There was also a slight increase in the area under sugarcane.

Among coarse cereals, the area under maize dropped from 1.39 lakh hectares to 95,000 hectares. The acreage for bajra (pearl millet) and ragi (finger millet) also lags slightly behind.

Among pulse crops, the area under arhar (tur) increased from 1.70 lakh hectares to 2.10 lakh hectares, and the sowing area for urad rose from 15,000 hectares to 25,000 hectares. Sowing of moong (green gram) has been limited to a smaller area. In the oilseeds category, the area under groundnut cultivation declined from 1.41 lakh hectares to 1.30 lakh hectares; however, the sowing area for castor improved from 21,000 hectares to 25,000 hectares, and the area under soybean increased from 5,000 hectares to 9,000 hectares.