Rabi Crop Area in Andhra Pradesh Rises by 46 Percent

20-Mar-2026 09:04 PM

Vijayawada. In Andhra Pradesh—a key agricultural producing state in South India—the total acreage for Rabi and Zaid season crops has surged to 27.50 lakh hectares this year.

This represents a 46 percent increase over the 18.80 lakh hectares sown during the corresponding period last year.

According to a new report by the State Agriculture Department, the normal average area for Rabi crops was estimated at 20.70 lakh hectares this time around; however, the actual sown area has significantly exceeded this figure. This includes the acreage covered under the extended Rabi season.

According to the Agriculture Department's report, comparing the 2025-26 season with 2024-25, the area under paddy cultivation in the state jumped from 6.71 lakh hectares to 9.17 lakh hectares; the sown area for maize rose from 1.87 lakh hectares to 5.00 lakh hectares; and the area under sorghum (Jowar) improved from 79,000 hectares to 1.15 lakh hectares.

Similarly, the total cultivation area for pulse crops surged from 7.41 lakh hectares last year to reach 9.17 lakh hectares this year. Within this category, the sown area for Bengal gram (Chana) increased from 3.03 lakh hectares to 4.12 lakh hectares;

the area for Black gram (Urad) rose from 2.80 lakh hectares to 3.34 lakh hectares; and the acreage for Green gram (Moong) improved from 56,000 hectares to 78,000 hectares. During this same period, the acreage for oilseed crops also expanded from 73,000 hectares to 1.35 lakh hectares.