New Delhi: The total area sown under Kharif crops in India stood at 1,071.10 lakh hectares as of August 28, down around 1.73% compared with the corresponding period last year, according to the latest All India Progressive Crop Area Sown Report released by the Ministry of Agriculture. Commenting on the latest Kharif sowing trends, M.K. Dhanuka, Chairman of Dhanuka Agritech Limited, said the crop-wise data presents a mixed picture, with pulses recording a 1.22% increase, while rice, coarse cereals and oilseeds remained below last year’s coverage.
M.K. Dhanuka said that with the Kharif season advancing, the focus should now increasingly move beyond acreage expansion towards protecting crop health and improving productivity from the area already under cultivation. He highlighted that rainfall distribution, soil moisture and crop-stage conditions will play a crucial role in determining yield potential during the remaining part of the season. 
According to Dhanuka, variations in weather conditions can create different crop-related challenges across regions, making regular crop monitoring and timely intervention important for farmers. He advised farmers to focus on balanced crop nutrition, scientific crop protection and appropriate agronomic practices to manage pest and disease pressure and support healthy crop development.
He further emphasised that the success of the Kharif season will depend not only on the total acreage under cultivation but also on the productivity achieved from every hectare. Timely access to quality agricultural inputs, scientific guidance and region-specific crop management practices will be essential to help farmers protect crops, reduce potential yield losses and improve farm productivity.
Dhanuka also stressed the importance of continued farmer awareness and adoption of scientific agricultural practices to strengthen resilience and productivity across the farming sector. As the Kharif crop cycle progresses, effective crop management and timely interventions will remain critical to converting the existing acreage into stronger yields and better farm outcomes.
