Maharashtra kharif sowing crosses 1.2 crore hectares after fresh monsoon spell

Mumbai: Maharashtra has covered more than 1.2 crore hectares under kharif sowing, achieving around 86 percent of the targeted area for the 2026 season following a fresh spell of monsoon rains that revived agricultural activity across several districts.

According to the State Agriculture Department, kharif sowing has reached 1.2 crore hectares against the seasonal target of around 1.39 crore hectares. The recent rainfall has helped farmers resume sowing operations in regions where delayed or uneven monsoon had slowed field activities earlier in the season.

Soybean continues to account for the largest share of the sown area, followed by cotton, pulses, paddy, maize and coarse cereals. Officials said sowing has picked up significantly in Marathwada, Vidarbha, north Maharashtra and parts of western Maharashtra after adequate rainfall improved soil moisture conditions.

The Agriculture Department expects sowing to gather further pace over the coming days as weather conditions remain favourable. Farmers in districts that had postponed planting due to moisture stress have now resumed operations, particularly for soybean, cotton and pulse crops.

Agriculture officials said crop conditions in most parts of the state remain satisfactory following the latest rains. However, they are continuing to monitor rainfall distribution, water availability and pest incidence to ensure timely advisories are issued to farmers.

Maharashtra is one of India's largest producers of soybean, cotton and pulses, making the progress of kharif sowing in the state a key indicator for the country's overall agricultural outlook. A good monsoon and timely sowing are expected to support crop establishment and productivity during the current season.

The improved sowing progress comes after concerns over patchy rainfall during the initial phase of the southwest monsoon. The latest spell has helped bridge much of the gap in sowing coverage, raising expectations of a normal kharif season if rainfall remains consistent during the crop growth period.

According to agriculture officials, sowing is expected to be completed in the remaining areas over the next few weeks, subject to continued favourable weather conditions.