Farmers in Karnataka are seen showing preference to plant crops such as maize and soyabean in the ongoing kharif 2025 cropping season, based on the early sowing data released by the State Agriculture Department.
Till June 13, the kharif sowing is complete in about 20.42 lakh ha, about a fourth of the targeted area of 82.50 lakh ha for the season. The overall sown area under kharif crop till June 14 is up marginally at 20.42 lakh ha (20.22 lakh ha).
Maize has been planted in 6.37 lakh hectares till June 13, about 12 per cent higher over last year’s 5.68 lakh ha. The State is targeting an area of 15.50 lakh ha for maize for the kharif 2025 cropping season. Karnataka is a large producer of kharif maize. Other cereals like paddy, bajra and millets are trailing last year’s levels, while jowar has seen a marginal increase. Total area under cereals has increased to 7.43 lakh ha over corresponding previous year’s 6.84 lakh ha.
Overall pulses area stood at 4.61 lakh ha trailing last year’s levels of 4.91 lakh ha. Acreages under green gram (moong) is marginally higher at 2.54 lakh ha (2.47 lakh ha in corresponding last year), while area under tur (pigeon pea) stood at 1.12 lakh ha, trailing last year’s levels 1.65 lakh ha.
Oil seeds
Among oilseeds, the acreage is up under soya bean at 1.24 lakh ha (1.01 lakh ha) and sunflower at 0.27 lakh ha (0.25 lakh ha). However, the sunflower area is trailing last year;s at 0.36 lakh ha (0.59 lakh ha).
Among the cash crops, area under cotton is a tad lower at 1.44 lah ha (1.59 l akh ha), while sugarcane is also marginally lower at 4.20 lakh ha (4.22 lakh ha). The tobacco area is marginally up at 0.72 lakh ha (0.71 lakh ha).