New Delhi, August 18: According to data released by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, as of August 14, the total area sown for Kharif crops this season is estimated at 10.17 million hectares. This is a decrease from 10.38 million hectares during the same period last year.
The government reports indicate that the area under rice cultivation has reached 3.79 million hectares this year, compared to 3.93 million hectares last year. This 14.37% drop in sowing area is attributed to the monsoon deficit and adverse effects of the El Niño weather pattern.
The area for pulses such as urad and moong has remained stable at 1.08 million hectares, slightly down from 1.08 million hectares last year, as these crops require less water.
The area for coarse cereals like jowar, bajra, and ragi is estimated at 1.73 million hectares this season, down from 1.77 million hectares during the same period last year.
Sugarcane cultivation has reached 0.58 million hectares so far, compared to 0.59 million hectares last year.
In the current Kharif season, cotton sowing is estimated at 1.07 million hectares, nearly equal to last year’s figure of 1.08 million hectares.
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved an increase in the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for 14 Kharif crops for the marketing season 2026-27. This increase aligns with the announcement in the 2018-19 central budget, which stated that MSP should be set at least 1.5 times the all-India average production cost.
The estimated margin for farmers based on production costs is expected to be highest for moong at 61%, followed by bajra and maize at 56%, and tur/arhar at 54%. According to a government statement, farmers are expected to receive a 50% margin over their production costs for other crops.
In recent years, the government has promoted the cultivation of crops beyond grains, such as pulses, oilseeds, and nutritious cereals, offering higher MSPs for these as well.
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