Maharashtra Kharif Sowing 2026 Reaches 74%; Soybean and Cotton Lead Crop Choices
By jayesh chouhan 2026-07-27 11:40:33
Maharashtra Kharif Sowing 2026: Sowing Completed on 74% of Area; Soybean and Cotton Top Farmers' Choices; Pulse Cultivation Declines
Sowing operations for the 2026 Kharif season in Maharashtra have gained momentum following good rainfall during the second half of July. According to the latest data from the Agriculture Department, sowing has been completed on 1.06 crore hectares—approximately 74 percent—of the state's average Kharif area of 1.44 crore hectares. While farmers initially faced uncertainty due to a weak monsoon start, timely rains have pushed sowing into its final stages across most regions.
A look at the regional breakdown reveals that the Amravati division leads with 89 percent sowing completion. It is followed by Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (79%), Nashik (78%), Latur (77%), Kolhapur (63%), and Nagpur and Pune (61% each). In contrast, the Konkan division has recorded only 15 percent sowing so far, due to scanty rainfall and a heavy reliance on paddy cultivation.
This year, farmers have shown a marked preference for cash crops. Sowing for soybean and cotton has reached 88 percent and 82 percent completion, respectively. Soybean has been cultivated across approximately 41.64 lakh hectares; farmers have been drawn to these crops by better market rates for cotton and the expectation of good prices for soybean. Conversely, pulse sowing has fallen short of expectations. While sowing for Tur (pigeon pea), Moong (green gram), and Urad (black gram) has reached 77, 56, and 59 percent respectively, the total pulse cultivation area covered stands at only 64 percent.
Paddy sowing is also proceeding slowly. Due to rainfall deficits in Konkan and Eastern Vidarbha, replanting operations have reached only 24 percent completion. Meanwhile, challenges such as the need for re-sowing in certain districts, shortages of seeds and fertilizers, and weather uncertainty continue to confront farmers. Agricultural experts believe that late-sown crops will be harvested in October-November; consequently, retreating rains could affect both yield and quality. The department expects sowing to be completed in the remaining areas as well by the end of July.
