Summer Crop Area Slightly Lower Than Last Year
10-Mar-2026 11:52 AM
New Delhi. Despite the lack of rainfall and increasing heat, summer (zaid) crop cultivation continues in the country, but its area is lagging slightly behind last year. According to data from the Union Agriculture Ministry, during the current year, as of March 6, 2026, the total area under summer crops at the national level reached 31.70 lakh hectares, which is 1.70 lakh hectares less than the sown area of 33.40 lakh hectares during the same period last year.
According to official data, the area under paddy production during the current summer season has decreased from 26.90 lakh hectares to 25.30 lakh hectares compared to last year, and the area under sowing of coarse grains is also 2.73 lakh hectares less.
According to official data, during the current Zaid season, the area under paddy production decreased from 26.90 lakh hectares to 25.30 lakh hectares as compared to last year and the area under coarse grains also decreased from 2.73 lakh hectares to 2.51 lakh hectares, but the area under pulses improved from 1.57 lakh hectares to 1.59 lakh hectares and the area under oilseed crops increased from 2.18 lakh hectares to 2.29 lakh hectares.
Among pulse crops, the area under moong production decreased from 98 thousand hectares to 95 thousand hectares and the area under black gram decreased from 46 thousand hectares to 45 thousand hectares.
Among coarse grains, the area under sorghum fell from 24 thousand hectares to 15 thousand hectares, the area under millet slipped from 53 thousand hectares to 46 thousand hectares and the area under maize decreased from 1.88 lakh hectares to 1.72 lakh hectares but the area under finger millet increased from 7 thousand hectares to 17 thousand hectares.
In the oilseeds category, the area under groundnut production increased from 1.50 lakh hectares to 1.58 lakh hectares and the area under sunflower improved from 15 thousand hectares to 19 thousand hectares while the area under sesame reached 50 thousand hectares which is the same as last year.