The total area covered under Kharif crops in India reached 1,086.31 lakh hectares as of September 4, 2026, according to the latest crop coverage figures. Compared with the same period last year, the acreage under pulses and jute-mesta has increased, while rice, coarse cereals, oilseeds, sugarcane and cotton have recorded declines of varying degrees.
Rice remains the largest Kharif crop by area, but its coverage has declined significantly. As of September 4, rice had been planted across 421.82 lakh hectares, compared with 438.19 lakh hectares during the corresponding period last year.
Karnataka recorded the largest reduction at around 4.28 lakh hectares, followed by Telangana at 3.61 lakh hectares, Andhra Pradesh at 1.91 lakh hectares, Uttar Pradesh at 1.84 lakh hectares, and Madhya Pradesh at 1.75 lakh hectares. Rice acreage also declined in Tamil Nadu, Jharkhand and Maharashtra. In contrast, Assam and Odisha recorded an increase in rice coverage compared with last year.
The acreage under pulses has shown a positive trend this Kharif season. Pulses were sown across 117.13 lakh hectares by September 4, compared with 115.30 lakh hectares during the same period last year. This marks an increase of approximately 1.84 lakh hectares. Uttar Pradesh recorded the highest increase at around 3.97 lakh hectares. Other states reporting higher pulse acreage include Jharkhand (0.98 lakh hectares), Telangana (0.90 lakh hectares), Rajasthan (0.57 lakh hectares) and Madhya Pradesh (0.38 lakh hectares). However, Maharashtra and Karnataka recorded declines of approximately 2.60 lakh hectares and 2.07 lakh hectares, respectively.
The area under Shri Anna and coarse cereals stood at around 181.39 lakh hectares as of September 4, compared with 182.48 lakh hectares during the same period last year. This represents a decline of approximately 1.09 lakh hectares. Karnataka recorded the biggest reduction at 5.64 lakh hectares, while Maharashtra saw a decline of around 2.41 lakh hectares. On the other hand, acreage increased in Rajasthan by 2.90 lakh hectares, Chhattisgarh by 1.69 lakh hectares, Odisha by 0.85 lakh hectares, and Madhya Pradesh by 0.80 lakh hectares. Increases were also recorded in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand and Uttarakhand.
Oilseed Acreage Falls by 1.07 Lakh Hectares:
The area under oilseeds stood at approximately 191.99 lakh hectares, compared with 193.06 lakh hectares during the corresponding period last year. Overall, oilseed coverage has declined by around 1.07 lakh hectares. Rajasthan recorded a reduction of around 2.23 lakh hectares, while Gujarat saw a decline of 1.93 lakh hectares. Karnataka also reported a smaller decrease. However, Uttar Pradesh recorded an increase of 2.91 lakh hectares, while Madhya Pradesh saw oilseed acreage rise by 1.14 lakh hectares.
Sugarcane Area Shows a Marginal Decline:
Sugarcane acreage stood at around 58.47 lakh hectares as of September 4, compared with 58.87 lakh hectares last year. This represents a marginal decline of approximately 0.40 lakh hectares. Bihar recorded a reduction of around 0.30 lakh hectares, while Uttarakhand saw a decline of 0.20 lakh hectares. In contrast, sugarcane acreage increased in Uttar Pradesh by 0.36 lakh hectares and Haryana by 0.21 lakh hectares.
Jute and Mesta Acreage Records Growth:
The area under jute and mesta has increased slightly this Kharif season. By September 4, the crop had been sown across around 6.34 lakh hectares, compared with 6.24 lakh hectares during the same period last year. This amounts to an increase of approximately 0.10 lakh hectares. Bihar recorded an increase of around 0.11 lakh hectares, while West Bengal saw acreage rise by 0.06 lakh hectares. Assam, however, recorded a decline of approximately 0.07 lakh hectares.
Cotton Acreage Declines Slightly:
Cotton acreage stood at around 109.17 lakh hectares as of September 4, compared with 109.87 lakh hectares during the same period last year. The overall decline is approximately 0.69 lakh hectares. Rajasthan recorded the largest reduction at around 1.05 lakh hectares, followed by Haryana at 0.90 lakh hectares and Punjab at 0.43 lakh hectares. Meanwhile, cotton acreage increased in Telangana by 1.14 lakh hectares and Gujarat by 0.66 lakh hectares.
What Do the Kharif Sowing Trends Indicate for Farmers?
The latest Kharif acreage figures indicate that crop sowing patterns are not uniform across crops or states this year. While pulses and jute-mesta have gained acreage, rice has recorded the most significant decline. For Madhya Pradesh, the trend is particularly noteworthy. The state has recorded an increase in acreage under pulses, Shri Anna and coarse cereals, and oilseeds, while rice acreage has declined.
FAQs:
Q1. What is the total Kharif crop acreage in India in 2026?
As of September 4, 2026, the total Kharif crop acreage in India reached 1,086.31 lakh hectares.
Q2. How much has rice acreage declined in 2026?
Rice acreage declined by approximately 16.37 lakh hectares, from 438.19 lakh hectares last year to 421.82 lakh hectares.
Q3. Has pulses acreage increased during Kharif 2026?
Yes. Pulses acreage increased by approximately 1.84 lakh hectares, reaching 117.13 lakh hectares.
Q4. Which Kharif crops recorded an increase in acreage?
Pulses and jute-mesta recorded increases in acreage, while some states also reported higher coverage under oilseeds, Shri Anna and coarse cereals.
Q5. Where can farmers get the latest Kharif crop and agriculture updates?
Farmers can follow Khetivyapar for the latest updates related to Kharif sowing, crop acreage, agriculture markets, weather and farming.
