Paddy Acreage Lags Despite Monsoon Recovery

27-Jul-2026 12:17 PM

New Delhi. While good monsoon rainfall across various parts of the country accelerated the pace of paddy transplantation and led to significant progress in acreage, the total area under cultivation has still fallen short of last year's figures. Essentially, it has not yet been possible to bridge the gap caused by the sharp decline in paddy acreage resulting from the extremely weak monsoon in June.

According to official data, the total area under paddy cultivation at the national level was recorded at 234.43 lakh hectares as of July 24, 2026, during the current Kharif season; this is 6.20 lakh hectares less than the 240.63 lakh hectares recorded during the same period last year.

The five-year average area for paddy is estimated at 412 lakh hectares, a figure that remains far off. Since paddy transplantation continues for an extended period in the eastern and southern states, a clear picture of the actual total acreage will only emerge by the end of August.

As there is a sufficient surplus stock of rice in government warehouses, any minor decline in paddy acreage or rice production due to the weak monsoon will pose no threat to national food security, nor will it significantly impact export performance.