Cotton Sowing Drops 15% in Rajasthan; Oilseed Acreage Increases
Recent data on Kharif sowing in Rajasthan up to August 4, 2026, reveal contrasting trends for cotton and oilseed crops. While the total acreage for oilseeds has increased compared to the same period last year, cotton acreage has witnessed a significant decline. These figures are based on the state government's Kharif sowing progress report.
Cotton has been sown across 534.18 thousand hectares, down from 628.50 thousand hectares during the same period last year. This represents a decline of 94.32 thousand hectares (15.01%); the sown area covers approximately 74% of the state's target of 720 thousand hectares.
Among oilseed crops, soybean acreage stands at 925.95 thousand hectares, compared to 977.26 thousand hectares a year ago, marking a decrease of 51.30 thousand hectares (5.25%).
However, groundnut has seen a significant rise; sowing has reached 1,085.71 thousand hectares, up from 967.49 thousand hectares last year. This increase of 118.22 thousand hectares represents a year-on-year growth of 12.22%.
Similarly, castor acreage has risen from 62.79 thousand hectares to 71.67 thousand hectares, an increase of 8.88 thousand hectares (14.15%).
Despite the reduction in soybean acreage, the expansion in groundnut and castor cultivation has pushed the state's total oilseed sowing area to 2,248.67 thousand hectares, up from 2,151.07 thousand hectares during the same period last year. The total oilseed acreage has increased by 97.60 thousand hectares, marking a year-on-year rise of 4.54%.
Recent sowing patterns indicate that farmers in Rajasthan have shifted towards groundnut and castor, while the acreage for cotton and soybean remains below last year's levels. The total Kharif crop acreage will depend on rainfall conditions and the progress of sowing during the remaining weeks of the season.
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