Sowing of coarse cereals also declines due to monsoon deficit

07-Jul-2026 05:57 PM

New Delhi. Deficient southwest monsoon rainfall and high temperatures have led to a decline in the sowing area for most crops—except sugarcane—during the current Kharif season. This includes paddy, pulses, oilseeds, and cotton, as well as coarse cereals and 'Shree Anna' (millets). Within the coarse cereals category, the acreage for pearl millet (bajra) and maize has seen the sharpest decline, while the area under sorghum (jowar), finger millet (ragi), and small millets has also decreased.

According to the latest data from the Union Ministry of Agriculture, the total area under coarse cereals for the current Kharif season stood at 6.012 million hectares as of July 5, 2026; this is 1.175 million hectares less than the 7.187 million hectares sown during the same period last year.

Specifically, the sowing area for pearl millet dropped from 3 million hectares to 2.082 million hectares, maize fell from 3.5 million hectares to 3.294 million hectares, sorghum declined from 0.489 million hectares to 0.453 million hectares, and finger millet acreage slipped from 88,000 hectares to 84,000 hectares. Small millets were sown across 98,000 hectares, compared to 109,000 hectares last year.

Farmers typically prioritize coarse cereal cultivation during periods of low rainfall, but this time, their enthusiasm appears somewhat subdued. Farmers in states like Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Karnataka are showing less interest in cultivating sorghum and pearl millet.

The pace of Kharif crop sowing is expected to pick up in the coming days as monsoon activity intensifies. The monsoon is currently active across the western, central, northern, and northwestern parts of the country. This is expected to provide significant support to farmers in the sowing of coarse cereals.