Kharif Crop Sowing Area Lags by 25% in Rajasthan

09-Jul-2026 11:36 AM

Jaipur: The pace of sowing is notably slow this season in Rajasthan, a key agricultural state in western India. The total area under Kharif crops has reached only 63.10 lakh hectares; this is 25% less than the 83.70 lakh hectares sown during the same period last year and represents approximately 38% of the normal average area of ​​164.10 lakh hectares.

According to State Agriculture Department data, compared to the previous year, the area under paddy in Rajasthan has dropped from 79,000 hectares to 47,000 hectares during the current Kharif season. Maize acreage has fallen from 6.00 lakh hectares to 2.52 lakh hectares, and the area sown with pearl millet (bajra) has declined from 26.90 lakh hectares to 16.70 lakh hectares.

Similarly, the area under pulse crops has decreased from 17.60 lakh hectares last year to 15.40 lakh hectares this season. Among pulses, the sowing area for moong (green gram) fell from 12.50 lakh hectares to 11.20 lakh hectares, while the area for urad (black gram) dropped from 1.44 lakh hectares to 43,000 hectares. Sowing of other pulse crops is also lagging.

Regarding oilseeds, the total area in Rajasthan has declined from 13.50 lakh hectares last year to 11.30 lakh hectares this season. Within this category, the sowing area for groundnut rose from 6.90 lakh hectares to 8.15 lakh hectares, whereas the area under soybean fell from 5.96 lakh hectares to 3.00 lakh hectares.

The cotton sowing area in Rajasthan has also decreased from 6.02 lakh hectares last year to 4.95 lakh hectares this season. However, the sugarcane cultivation area improved from 3,455 hectares to 3,902 hectares, and the area under guar increased from 7.10 lakh hectares to 8.01 lakh hectares.