Mixed Sowing Pattern Observed in Maharashtra's Kharif Crops

07-Aug-2025 02:04 PM

Mumbai. This time a mixed trend is being seen in the production area of Kharif crops in Maharashtra, an important agricultural producing state of the country.

Under this, there has been a decline in the area of paddy and maize as compared to last year, while the area of other crops is moving ahead, which also includes tur, soybean and cotton.

According to the data released by the Maharashtra Agriculture Department, the total production area of Kharif crops in the state has increased to 139.46 lakh hectares, which is 1.86 lakh hectares more than last year's sowing area of 137.60 lakh hectares.

Compared to last year, during the current Kharif season, the total production area of grain crops including paddy in Maharashtra has decreased from 30.95 lakh hectares to 28.46 lakh hectares. Under this, the area under paddy has fallen from 12.11 lakh hectare to 11.62 lakh hectare and the sowing area of maize has slipped from 14.13 lakh hectare to 10.98 lakh hectare.

Maharashtra is one of the few states where the area under maize has declined this time and the area under paddy has also decreased. On the other hand, the sowing area of jowar has improved from 85 thousand hectare to 1.05 lakh hectare and the area under millet has increased from 3.16 lakh hectare to 3.94 lakh hectare.

The total production area of pulses crops in Kharif season in Maharashtra has increased from 18.26 lakh hectare last year to 18.94 lakh hectare this time.

Under this, the sowing area of Arhar (Tuvar) improved from 11.91 lakh hectare to 12.04 lakh hectare, area of moong increased from 2.08 lakh hectare to 2.29 lakh hectare and area of Urad increased from 3.68 lakh hectare to 3.94 lakh hectare. The sowing area of other pulses also improved from 60 thousand hectare to 67 thousand hectare.

In the category of oilseed crops, the production area of soybean increased from 48.83 lakh hectare to 49.74 lakh hectare,

the sowing area of groundnut improved from 1.28 lakh hectare to 1.41 lakh hectare and area of sunflower increased by 4 thousand hectare to 9 thousand hectare. Sowing of sesame has also increased a bit.

Apart from this, the production area of cotton has also jumped from 38.17 lakh hectare last year to 40.70 lakh hectare. It is noteworthy that Maharashtra ranks second in the production of pigeon pea, soybean and cotton in the country and is also a major producer of maize.