News Capsule: Maharashtra Kharif Sowing Down 66%, Covers Only 1% of Normal Area
18-Jun-2026 11:08 AM
News Capsule: Maharashtra Kharif Sowing Down 66%, Covers Only 1% of Normal Area
★ Kharif sowing in Maharashtra has been severely impacted by the delayed progress of the monsoon and inadequate pre-monsoon rainfall. As of June 16, sowing had been completed on only 1.44 lakh hectares, down 66% from 4.24 lakh hectares a year ago. This represents just 1% of the state's normal kharif acreage of 15.7 million hectares.
★ The state received only 21.6 mm of rainfall during June 1–16, which is 75% below normal. The southwest monsoon has largely stalled over western India since June 8, leaving most parts of Maharashtra without adequate rainfall.
★ Crop-wise, paddy acreage has fallen to 4,804 hectares from 19,007 hectares last year. Maize acreage declined to 10,216 hectares from 33,095 hectares, bajra to 588 hectares from 26,455 hectares, tur to 2,953 hectares from 25,970 hectares, moong to 293 hectares from 25,469 hectares, and urad to 236 hectares from 46,392 hectares.
★ Total pulses acreage has dropped sharply to just 3,526 hectares from 99,082 hectares a year ago. Oilseed sowing has also declined significantly, with total acreage falling to 8,362 hectares from 1.06 lakh hectares. Soybean acreage has dropped to 7,988 hectares from 1.02 lakh hectares, while groundnut acreage has fallen to 339 hectares from 3,912 hectares.
★ Cotton acreage has also declined to 1.12 lakh hectares from 1.33 lakh hectares last year.
★ The weak monsoon has affected water availability as well. Reservoirs in Maharashtra are currently filled to only 24% of their live storage capacity, compared with nearly 32% during the same period last year. Unless rainfall improves significantly in the coming weeks, kharif sowing and crop production may remain under pressure.