Monsoon Accelerates Kharif Sowing in Telangana and Maharashtra; Cotton Sowing Nears Completion
New Delhi: Recent monsoon rains have given fresh momentum to Kharif season sowing in Telangana and Maharashtra. Continuous rainfall following a prolonged dry spell has boosted soil moisture and filled reservoirs and farm ponds, prompting farmers to accelerate sowing and paddy transplantation activities. Significant progress in Kharif crop cultivation has been observed in both states, with cotton sowing nearing its final stage.
In Telangana, following more than 48 hours of continuous drizzle, Kharif crop sowing and paddy transplantation have been completed across 82.65 lakh acres so far. This figure exceeds the 82.15 lakh acres recorded during the same period last year. According to agricultural officials, recent rains have ensured adequate soil moisture, and improved irrigation water availability has accelerated paddy transplantation. The state's rainfall deficit, which stood at 30 percent a week ago, has now narrowed to 19 percent.
Regarding crop-wise progress, paddy transplantation has been completed on 25.46 lakh acres, representing approximately 31 percent of the 65.97 lakh-acre target. Cotton sowing has reached 46.33 lakh acres against a target of 47.41 lakh acres, meaning nearly 98 percent of the target has been achieved. Additionally, sowing has been completed for maize (4.69 lakh acres), *arhar* (red gram) (4.42 lakh acres), and soybean (3.66 lakh acres).
Kharif sowing has also picked up pace in Maharashtra due to good monsoon rains over the past two weeks. According to the state's Agriculture Department, as of July 30, sowing has been completed on approximately 1.23 crore hectares out of the state's average Kharif acreage of 1.44 crore hectares (excluding sugarcane), marking the achievement of 86 percent of the total target. Sowing across an additional area of approximately 2.3 million hectares was recorded between July 16 and July 30.
According to crop-wise data, soybean sowing in Maharashtra has covered 4.72 million hectares and cotton sowing 3.73 million hectares, representing about 88 percent of the estimated target. Meanwhile, paddy transplantation has been completed across 0.78 million hectares. The state recorded 466.8 mm of rainfall between June 1 and July 27, which is 94.15 percent of the normal rainfall.
Agricultural experts state that recent rainfall has improved the condition of Kharif crops in both states. If the monsoon remains normal in the coming weeks, the growth of cotton, paddy, soybean, and other Kharif crops will improve, further strengthening production prospects for the year.
