Maharashtra: Drop in Kharif Sowing in Oilseed and Cotton.
09-Jul-2025 08:08 AM
Maharashtra: Drop in Kharif Sowing in Oilseed and Cotton.
Corn winning Race.
★ As per the Maharashtra Agriculture Department, kharif sowing in the state stood at 107.96 lakh hectares as of July 7, 2025 — down by 4.50 lakh hectares compared to 112.46 lakh hectares during the same period last year.
★ These figures indicate a significant shift in acreage from soybean and cotton to maize. Moreover, the monsoon situation across the state is beginning to clarify.
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Crop-wise sowing trends:
Maize: Area increased
★ Maize has seen the largest gain this season, with an increase of 2.78 lakh hectares. A total of 11.24 lakh hectares has been sown so far, up from 8.45 lakh hectares last year.
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Area declined:
Soybean:
★ Soybean sowing has declined significantly. The current season has seen sowing in 40.60 lakh hectares, which is 2.59 lakh hectares less than 43.19 lakh hectares in 2024.
Groundnut:
★ Groundnut acreage dropped by 25,771 hectares, falling from 1.11 lakh hectares last year to 85,868 hectares this year.
Cotton:
★ Cotton sowing has also declined from 36.74 lakh hectares in 2024 to 33.59 lakh hectares in 2025.
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Market impact:
★ Except for maize, most kharif crops have not fetched remunerative prices this year, leading to disinterest among farmers. This shift could have serious implications for crop supply and market dynamics in the coming months.
★ Erratic rainfall and water scarcity in several parts of the state are key reasons behind the drop in overall sowing. The coming weeks will be crucial for both farmers and policymakers.