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Acreage of kharif crop in Maharashtra remains largely unchanged from last year
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Friday, 21 November, 2025, 08 : 00 AM [IST]
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Ashwani Maindola, New Delhi
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The acreage of kharif crop in Maharashtra for the 2025-26 season has not seen any significant increase and remained largely unchanged from the previous year.
As per Shankar Thakkar, national secretary, Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT), data from the Maharashtra Agriculture Department shows that while the area under some pulses has increased, the area under other crops has seen a huge decline due to variations in rainfall patterns and changing farmer trends.
Tur (Arhar), Maharashtra's main kharif pulses crop, has been sown on 1,226,440 hectares, which is 96 percent of the five-year average and almost equal to last year. This shows that farmers remain dependent on tur crop despite monsoon and market fluctuations. And despite rising prices, there has not been a significant increase in its cultivation in recent years.
"While moong (green gram) saw a decline, with sowing on 211,318 hectares, 70 percent of the five-year average and 89 percent of last year's area. This decline reflects farmers' waning confidence in the crop. On the other hand, sowing of urad (black gram) is showing a good trend, covering 378,257 hectares. This figure is 105 percent of the average of the last five years and 97 percent of last year's sowing," said Thakkar.
Meanwhile, according to Agriculture Department officials, farmers are increasingly turning to black gram due to good market prices and high yields even in low rainfall. Pulses, including kidney beans, have been sown on 68,575 hectares, which is 75 percent of the five-year average and 96 percent of last year's sowing. Overall, the total area under pulses has reached 18,84,591 hectares – which is 93 percent of the average of the last five years and 98 percent of last year's sowing.
"This slow growth is causing some concern, especially since production of cereal crops like maize has risen to 156 percent of the five-year average and 130 percent this season. Experts say the decline reflects variations in rainfall patterns and farmers' caution about rising costs," said Thakkar.
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