India’s Kharif Area Coverage stood at 1,086.31 lakh hectares as of September 4, 2026, with pulses and jute & mesta recording higher coverage than during the corresponding period last year.
Rice remained the largest crop by area, with 421.82 lakh hectares under cultivation, compared with 438.19 lakh hectares a year earlier. This represents a decline of 16.37 lakh hectares.
The biggest reductions in rice coverage were reported in Karnataka, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Jharkhand and Maharashtra. Assam and Odisha, however, recorded higher rice coverage.
Rice, Cereals and Oilseeds See Lower Coverage
Area under Shri Anna & Coarse Cereals stood at 181.39 lakh hectares, down from 182.48 lakh hectares last year, a decline of 1.09 lakh hectares. Karnataka and Maharashtra recorded the largest reductions, while Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand and Uttarakhand reported higher coverage.
Oilseed coverage was 191.99 lakh hectares, compared with 193.06 lakh hectares during the corresponding period last year, marking a decline of 1.07 lakh hectares. Lower coverage in Rajasthan and Gujarat outweighed gains reported in Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.
Sugarcane area stood at 58.47 lakh hectares, down 0.40 lakh hectares from 58.87 lakh hectares last year. Reductions in Bihar and Uttarakhand more than offset higher coverage in Uttar Pradesh and Haryana.
Pulses and Jute & Mesta Register Gains
Pulses recorded an increase, with area coverage reaching 117.13 lakh hectares, compared with 115.30 lakh hectares last year, an increase of 1.84 lakh hectares.
Higher coverage in Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Telangana, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh outweighed declines in Maharashtra, Karnataka and Odisha.
Jute & Mesta coverage also increased to 6.34 lakh hectares from 6.24 lakh hectares, rising by 0.10 lakh hectares. Bihar and West Bengal recorded higher coverage, offsetting declines in Assam and Andhra Pradesh.
Cotton coverage stood at 109.17 lakh hectares, compared with 109.87 lakh hectares last year, showing a decline of 0.69 lakh hectares. Lower coverage in Rajasthan, Haryana and Punjab outweighed gains in Telangana and Gujarat.
Q1. What was India’s total Kharif Area Coverage as of September 4, 2026?
India‘s total Kharif Area Coverage stood at 1,086.31 lakh hectares as of September 4, 2026.
Q2. Which Kharif crops recorded higher area coverage compared with last year?
Pulses and Jute & Mesta recorded higher area coverage than during the corresponding period last year.
Q3. How much did rice area coverage decline in 2026?
Rice area coverage declined by 16.37 lakh hectares, falling to 421.82 lakh hectares from 438.19 lakh hectares.
Q4. How much area was covered under pulses?
Pulses covered 117.13 lakh hectares, up from 115.30 lakh hectares during the corresponding period last year.
Q5. What was the cotton area coverage as of September 4, 2026?
Cotton area coverage stood at 109.17 lakh hectares, compared with 109.87 lakh hectares during the corresponding period last year.
