**Progress Report on Summer Crop Area Coverage (as of April 24, 2026)**
The Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare has released a progress report on the area coverage under summer crops for the 2026 season. As of April 24, 2026, the total area sown for summer crops reached 72.30 lakh hectares, representing an increase compared to the 70.19 lakh hectares recorded during the corresponding period in 2025. However, this figure remains below the "Normal Summer Area" (based on the average from 2022-23 to 2024-25) of 75.37 lakh hectares.
**Crop-wise Coverage Summary (in Lakh Hectares):**
* **Rice:** The current area sown stands at 30.68 lakh hectares, a decrease from the 32.31 lakh hectares recorded in the same period last year and slightly below the normal area of 31.49 lakh hectares.
* **Pulses:** Total pulses coverage increased to 17.19 lakh hectares, compared to 15.93 lakh hectares last year. Greengram (13.17 lakh hectares) and Blackgram (3.72 lakh hectares) are the primary contributors.
* **Shree Anna cum Coarse Cereals:** This category saw significant growth, reaching 15.21 lakh hectares, surpassing both last year’s figure (14.25 lakh hectares) and the normal area (12.08 lakh hectares). Notable crops include:
* Maize: 9.50 lakh hectares (up from 8.50 lakh hectares in 2025).
* Bajra: 5.10 lakh hectares.
* Jowar: 0.37 lakh hectares.
* **Oilseeds:** Total coverage for oilseeds reached 9.21 lakh hectares, an increase from 7.71 lakh hectares during the same period last year.
* Groundnut: 5.51 lakh hectares (up from 4.20 lakh hectares in 2025).
* Sesamum: 3.25 lakh hectares.
* Sunflower: 0.39 lakh hectares.
**Comparative Data Table Overview:**
| Crop Category | Normal Summer Area | 2026 (Current) | 2025 (Corresponding Period) |
| :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- |
| **Total Area** | **75.37** | **72.30** | **70.19** |
| Rice | 31.49 | 30.68 | 32.31 |
| Pulses | 23.40 | 17.19 | 15.93 |
| Coarse Cereals | 12.08 | 15.21 | 14.25 |
| Oilseeds | 8.40 | 9.21 | 7.71 |
**Administrative Details:**
* **Release ID:** 2256020
* **Posted By:** PIB Delhi on April 27, 2026, at 6:27 PM
* **Available Languages:** Urdu, Hindi
* **Reference:** RC/MS
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare: The primary government body responsible for monitoring and reporting the progress of crop sowing and area coverage in India.
Shree Anna: A key policy initiative and classification for millets and coarse cereals, prioritized for tracking to promote cultivation and nutritional security.
Directorate of Economics and Statistics (DES): The departmental entity responsible for providing the 'Normal Summer Area' benchmarks used to measure agricultural progress.
Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare
Progress of Area Coverage under Summer Crops
as on 24.04.2026
Posted On: 27 APR 2026 6:27PM by PIB Delhi
Area:In Lakh Hectare
Area Sown
S. Normal Final Corresponding D
Summer SummerArea period of Last co
Crops Current
No.
Area 2025 Year (2025) p
Year
(DES) (2026)
1 Rice 31.49 33.28 30.68 32.31
2 Pulses 23.40 27.07 17.19 15.93
a Greengram 20.44 23.49 13.17 12.99
b Blackgram 2.96 3.26 3.72 2.75
c OtherPulses 0.00 - 0.30 0.18
3 Shree Anna 12.08 14.06 15.21 14.25
cum Coarse
Cereals
a Jowar 0.34 0.36 0.37 0.36
b Bajra 4.43 5.20 5.10 5.20
c Ragi 0.31 - 0.22 0.16
d Small Millets 0.02 - 0.03 0.03e Maize 6.98 8.50 9.50 8.50
4 Oilseeds 8.40 9.51 9.21 7.71
a Groundnut 3.40 4.20 5.51 4.20
b Sunflower 0.34 0.35 0.39 0.35
c Sesamum 4.66 4.96 3.25 3.09
d Other Oliseeds 0.00 - 0.06 0.06
Total 75.37 83.92 72.30 70.19
*Normalareafrom2022-23to2024-25
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RC/MS
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Read this release in: Urdu , ही