Has the Total Area Sown Under Kharif Crop Surpassed 262.15 Lakh Hectares?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Total kharif area sown: 262.15 lakh hectares
- Percentage increase: 11.3% from last year
- Rice area: 35.02 lakh hectares
- Pulses area: 21.09 lakh hectares
- Government support: Enhanced MSP for 14 crops
New Delhi, June 23 (NationPress) The sown area for the ongoing kharif crop has reached 262.15 lakh hectares this year, marking an increase of 11.3 percent from 235.44 lakh hectares in the same timeframe last year, according to data released by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare on Monday.
The rise of 26.71 lakh hectares in the early season is promising for enhanced production, which is likely to boost farmers' incomes and assist in controlling food inflation.
As of June 27 this year, the area dedicated to rice stands at 35.02 lakh hectares, compared to 23.78 lakh hectares at the same time last year.
For pulses like urad and moong, the area has been reported at 21.09 lakh hectares, up from 15.37 lakh hectares during the previous year, illustrating a significant increase of 5.37 lakh hectares, which is beneficial for controlling inflation.
The area for coarse cereals, including millets such as jowar, bajra, and ragi, has surged to 41.75 lakh hectares this season, compared to 35.01 lakh hectares last year.
Improved monsoon rains have aided sowing in unirrigated regions, which constitute nearly 50 percent of the nation's farmland.
The area for sugarcane has grown to 55.16 lakh hectares from 54.88 lakh hectares last year.
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved an increase in Minimum Support Prices (MSP) for 14 kharif crops for the 2025-26 marketing season on May 28 to ensure favorable prices for growers and promote production.
The most significant increase in MSP over the previous 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).