The total area sown under summer crops in India has reached 36.22 lakh hectares as of March 13, 2026, slightly lower than the 37.25 lakh hectares recorded during the same period last year, according to data released by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.
The data shows an overall decline of 1.03 lakh hectares compared to the corresponding period in 2025. However, certain crops such as pulses and sunflower have recorded an increase in cultivated area during the current season.
Overall Area Coverage Under Summer Crops
| Crop Category | Normal Summer Area (Lakh Hectare) | Final Area 2025 (Lakh Hectare) | Area Sown in 2026 (Lakh Hectare) | Area Last Year (2025) | Increase/Decrease |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rice | 31.49 | 33.28 | 26.75 | 27.97 | -1.22 |
| Pulses | 23.40 | 27.07 | 2.25 | 1.74 | +0.51 |
| Shree Anna & Coarse Cereals | 12.08 | 14.06 | 4.14 | 4.41 | -0.26 |
| Oilseeds | 8.40 | 9.51 | 3.08 | 3.13 | -0.06 |
| Total | 75.37 | 83.92 | 36.22 | 37.25 | -1.03 |
Normal area refers to the average summer crop coverage during the period 2022–23 to 2024–25.
Rice Coverage Declines Slightly
Rice continues to occupy the largest share of summer crop cultivation. However, the area under rice has declined to 26.75 lakh hectares in 2026, compared with 27.97 lakh hectares during the same period last year, marking a reduction of 1.22 lakh hectares.
Pulses Show Positive Growth
Pulses recorded a notable increase in cultivated area, rising to 2.25 lakh hectares in 2026, compared to 1.74 lakh hectares in 2025, representing an expansion of 0.51 lakh hectares.
Area Coverage Under Pulses
| Pulse Crop | Area in 2026 (Lakh Hectare) | Area in 2025 (Lakh Hectare) | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greengram | 1.33 | 1.09 | +0.23 |
| Blackgram | 0.71 | 0.51 | +0.20 |
| Other Pulses | 0.21 | 0.13 | +0.08 |
The growth in pulses cultivation reflects increasing interest among farmers in these crops due to their nutritional importance and market demand.
Coarse Cereals and Millets
Area under Shree Anna and coarse cereals stands at 4.14 lakh hectares, slightly lower than the 4.41 lakh hectares recorded last year.
Crop-wise Area Under Coarse Cereals
| Crop | Area in 2026 (Lakh Hectare) | Area in 2025 (Lakh Hectare) | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jowar | 0.15 | 0.25 | -0.10 |
| Bajra | 0.83 | 0.84 | -0.02 |
| Ragi | 0.19 | 0.11 | +0.08 |
| Small Millets | 0.02 | 0.02 | 0.00 |
| Maize | 2.96 | 3.19 | -0.22 |
While maize and jowar areas declined, ragi cultivation showed a modest increase during the current season.
Oilseeds Coverage
Oilseeds have recorded a slight decrease in total coverage, with 3.08 lakh hectares cultivated in 2026, compared to 3.13 lakh hectares during the same period last year.
Area Coverage Under Oilseeds
| Oilseed Crop | Area in 2026 (Lakh Hectare) | Area in 2025 (Lakh Hectare) | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Groundnut | 2.00 | 2.04 | -0.04 |
| Sunflower | 0.24 | 0.20 | +0.03 |
| Sesamum | 0.80 | 0.84 | -0.04 |
| Other Oilseeds | 0.04 | 0.05 | -0.01 |
Among oilseeds, sunflower cultivation has shown a marginal increase, while groundnut and sesamum areas have slightly declined.
Overall Trend
The data indicates a mixed trend in summer crop sowing across India. While the total cultivated area is slightly lower compared to last year, pulses and certain millet crops have seen expansion, reflecting changing agricultural patterns and crop preferences among farmers.
The government continues to monitor crop coverage closely as the summer sowing season progresses, with the expectation that acreage may increase further in the coming weeks depending on weather conditions, irrigation availability, and market trends.
Source : PIB
Last Updated on: Tuesday, March 17, 2026 4:02 pm by Digital Herald Team | Published by: Digital Herald Team on Tuesday, March 17, 2026 4:02 pm | News Categories: Mumbai