Sowing of key kharif crops across India is facing a sharp decline, a recent report by the central government shows, amid a deficit in monsoon in the country.

According to the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, the total area sown with key kharif crops as of June 25, 2026, has declined by 53.74 lakh hectares, as compared to June 25, 2025.

This comes as India is faced with a monsoon crisis, with the weather office saying that rainfall across the country between June 1 and July 1 was 38 per cent below average. Normally, monsoon sets in on June 1 every year in India, starting with Kerala.

The report - "Progress of Area Coverage under Kharif Crops" - published by the agriculture ministry's department of statistics, shows the total area sown with Kharif crops stood at 236.46 lakh hectares as of June 25 last year. This year, it has gone down to 182.72 lakh hectares as of June 25.