India’s Kharif Sowing Gains Momentum in Early June 2025
India’s agriculture sector has received a positive boost as the area under kharif crops as on 13 June 2025 has increased by 1.48 lakh hectares compared to the same period last year, according to data released by the Department of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare. This rise is being attributed to the early advancement of the southwest monsoon in several key states.
1. Rice Shows Strong Start
Normal Area: 403.09 lakh ha
Area Sown in 2025: 4.53 lakh ha
Increase: 0.53 lakh ha over 2024
Rice, the main staple of the kharif season, has witnessed a promising start with a 13% year-on-year increase in sowing area.
2. Pulses Record Steady Growth
Total Area in 2025: 3.07 lakh ha
Up from 2.60 lakh ha in 2024
Among pulses:
Urd bean: Up by 0.24 lakh ha
Moong bean: Increased by 0.17 lakh ha
Arhar (Tur): Down by 0.11 lakh ha
Farmers are seemingly favouring short-duration varieties like Moong and Urd, which are less water-intensive.
3. Oilseeds Gain on Soybean Surge
Total Area in 2025: 2.05 lakh ha
Increase: 0.55 lakh ha from 2024
Soybean, the key driver here, has seen a notable rise of 0.66 lakh ha. However, groundnut showed a decline of 0.13 lakh ha.
This shift suggests changing crop preferences influenced by market demand and input costs.
4. Coarse Cereals & Millets: Mixed Bag
While the overall area under coarse cereals is steady at around 5.89 lakh ha:
Bajra (Pearl Millet): Sees a sharp jump (+0.83 lakh ha)
Maize: Drops by 0.68 lakh ha
Ragi and Small Millets: Record declines
The government’s push for Shri Anna (nutri-cereals) seems to be slowly taking root but regional rainfall patterns may be influencing local choices.
5. Sugarcane Outpaces Normal
Normal Area: 52.51 lakh ha
2025 Area: 55.07 lakh ha
Increase: 0.20 lakh ha
Despite being a water-intensive crop, sugarcane continues to see expansion, likely due to strong price assurance and procurement policies.
6. Cotton and Jute Face Minor Setbacks
Cotton: Down slightly by 0.09 lakh ha
Jute & Mesta: Decline of 0.17 lakh ha
These declines are relatively minor and may recover as sowing continues in the coming weeks.
Implications & Outlook
The current positive sowing trends offer an optimistic outlook for India’s agriculture-driven rural economy, especially if the monsoon remains favourable.
According to IMD forecasts, monsoon is expected to be normal to above normal, which bodes well for completing the remaining kharif sowing over the next month.
Conclusion
The overall progressive start to kharif sowing is a welcome sign. Government support through timely advisories, seed distribution, and market linkages will be key in sustaining this growth.
Stay tuned for detailed state-wise updates and performance reviews as the monsoon progresses.