Foodgrain sowing shines, but commercial crops lag in Kharif season

Rice and coarse cereal sowing higher than normal

Sowing of food grains has outpaced the average this Kharif season, with rice and coarse cereals ahead of normal coverage, agriculture ministry data shows. By contrast, planting of commercial crops and oilseeds has lagged as erratic rainfall in parts of the country dampened progress.

Rice and Cereals Lead the Way

Rice has been the standout performer this season. Coverage has touched nearly 42 million hectares—7.6 lakh hectares more than last year—pushing the crop to 104 percent of the normal area. Coarse cereals, too, posted a robust performance, with area coverage 6.4 percent higher than in 2024, reaching 104 percent of the long-term average.

Pulses made only modest gains, with sowing up 1.2 percent from last year, though still at just 87 percent of the normal area.

Commercial Crops Disappoint

Oilseeds, cotton, and jute have struggled to keep pace. Oilseed sowing trails last year’s coverage by 2.8 percent, reaching only 94 percent of the normal area. Cotton and jute are faring worse, at 83.8 percent and 83.9 percent of their respective averages—reflecting significant shortfalls.

Overall, Kharif crop coverage stands at 97.9 percent of the normal area—up 3.4 percent from last year. This highlights a mixed picture: strong momentum in food grains contrasts with weak performance in commercial crops, underlining the vulnerability of rain-dependent segments to uneven monsoon patterns.

Weather Risks Could Alter the Outlook

Experts caution that strong sowing figures may not translate into higher output if adverse weather persists.

“Heavy rains over the last week have reportedly caused crop damage in some regions for pulses, soyabean, and cotton. In Maharashtra, for instance, crops across 2.01 million acres (~0.8 million hectares) in 19 districts have been affected. The distribution of rainfall until September and any unseasonal post-monsoon rains in October will bear watching,” said Aastha Gudwani, chief India economist, Barclays.

“August is the final month where sowing activity continues materially, and from late September onwards, harvesting activity begins in India,” said Rahul Bajoria, India & ASEAN Economist, BofA Securities.