Has the total area sown in the current kharif season in India exceeded 1,110 lakh hectares?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Total area sown under kharif crops has surpassed 1,110 lakh hectares.
- A rise of 14.92 lakh hectares compared to last year.
- Improvements in monsoon conditions have aided crop sowing.
- Increase in Minimum Support Prices for farmers.
- Higher production expected to enhance farmer incomes.
New Delhi, Sep 15 (NationPress) The total area sown for kharif crops this season has risen by 14.92 lakh hectares to reach 1,110.80 lakh hectares as of September 12, compared to 1,095.88 lakh hectares during the same timeframe last year, according to data released by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare on Monday.
This increase in the sown area is anticipated to lead to higher production, which could enhance farmers' incomes and assist in controlling food inflation.
The statistics indicate that the area dedicated to rice has reached 438.51 lakh hectares this year, reflecting an increase of 8.41 lakh hectares from 430.06 lakh hectares in the previous year.
In addition, the area for pulses such as Urd and Moong has expanded to 118.06 lakh hectares, up from 117.25 lakh hectares last year.
Moreover, the area allocated for coarse cereals or millets, including jowar, bajra, and ragi, has surged by 12.17 lakh hectares to 192.91 lakh hectares during the current season compared to the same period last year.
This season's increase in sown area is attributed to improved monsoon rains, which have aided sowing in the unirrigated regions of the country, encompassing nearly 50 percent of India's farmland.
The area for sugarcane has also grown to 57.31 lakh hectares, which is 1.64 lakh hectares more than the previous year during the same period.
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved a rise in the Minimum Support Prices (MSP) for 14 kharif crops for the 2025-26 marketing season on May 28 to ensure growers receive fair prices and to encourage production.
The largest absolute increase in MSP compared to last year has been suggested for nigerseed (Rs. 820 per quintal), followed by Ragi (Rs. 596 per quintal), cotton (Rs. 589 per quintal), and sesamum (Rs. 579 per quintal).