Arhar Sowing Runs 18% Below Last Year's Pace, Karnataka Deficit Hard to Offset
Kharif arhar coverage stood at 24.80 lakh hectares as of July 17 — well behind the 30.17 lh recorded a year ago — with Karnataka's 42% plunge the single biggest drag on a crop targeting 50 lh and 4 mt output.
The short answer
India's arhar sowing area was 18% lower than a year ago as of July 17, 2026, with total coverage at 24.80 lakh hectares against 30.17 lakh hectares in the same period last year. Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh have all recorded significant declines, while Uttar Pradesh, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh have posted gains that are not large enough to compensate. Experts say the sowing window extends to around August 10 this year due to delayed rains, leaving some room for recovery — but the government's target of over 50 lakh hectares remains a stretch.
The shortfall
Coverage Gap Widens as Karnataka Bears the Brunt
India's kharif arhar sowing is running well behind schedule. As of July 17, total area under the crop stood at 24.80 lakh hectares (lh), compared with 30.17 lh recorded on the same date in 2024 — an 18% year-on-year decline.
The sharpest fall has come from Karnataka, where coverage collapsed 42% to 6.56 lh from 11.25 lh a year ago. Maharashtra recorded a 10% drop to 9.60 lh from 10.71 lh, while Madhya Pradesh was 31% lower at 1.34 lh against 1.93 lh. Together, these three states — historically the backbone of India's arhar production — account for the bulk of the deficit that is proving difficult to bridge.
Green shoots
UP, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh Buck the Trend
Not all the news is bleak. Three states have posted meaningful gains in arhar area this season:
- Uttar Pradesh: up 30% to 2.52 lh from 1.94 lh
- Telangana: up 16% to 1.53 lh from 1.32 lh
- Andhra Pradesh: more than doubled to 1.08 lh from 0.49 lh
While these increases are encouraging, the absolute hectarage added across the three states falls well short of what has been lost in Karnataka alone. Experts caution that even if Maharashtra and Gujarat recover in subsequent weeks, erratic rainfall makes it unlikely the aggregate area will hit the government's target.
There may be significant improvement in the next weekly update of sowing as there have been rains in many states in the past few days.
On the ground
Re-Sowing in Karnataka and a Delayed Window Across Major States
Aditya Pratap of the ICAR-Indian Institute of Pulses Research (IIPR), Kanpur, told The Hindu BusinessLine that recent rains across several states could drive a significant improvement in the next weekly sowing update.
He noted that the normal June–July sowing window has effectively been extended to around August 10 this year, owing to delayed and deficient rainfall earlier in the season. In Karnataka's key arhar districts of Bidar and Gulbarga, farmers were forced to re-sow after rains abruptly ceased in June, compounding the acreage loss.
For medium-duration varieties (150–180 days maturity) suited to Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Madhya Pradesh, sowing can continue until the first week of August, with harvest expected around February. Farmers opting for short-duration arhar (under 150 days) — to free the field for a rabi crop — face a tighter deadline and need to complete sowing by end of July.
The target
Government Aims for 50 Lakh Hectares and 4 MT Production
The Union government has set an ambitious area target of over 50 lakh hectares under arhar for the kharif 2026 season, with a production goal of at least 4 million tonnes — an objective seen as critical to stabilising domestic pulse supplies and keeping retail prices in check.
With barely 24.80 lh covered at the midpoint of the primary sowing window, the gap between current progress and the target is substantial. The coming two to three weeks will be decisive: states with remaining sowing potential — particularly Maharashtra and Gujarat — will need a combination of timely rainfall and farmer uptake to narrow the deficit. For now, pulse traders and procurement agencies should price in the possibility of a below-target arhar crop when the harvest arrives in early 2027.
Why it matters
With the government targeting more than 50 lakh hectares to secure at least 4 million tonnes of arhar production in 2026, a shortfall in area sowing — particularly in Karnataka, India's second-largest arhar belt — raises the prospect of tighter domestic supplies next year. Commodity traders and pulse processors should watch the next weekly sowing update closely, as rains in recent days could materially improve coverage. Policymakers may need to consider whether MSP incentives or input support are sufficient to rebuild farmer confidence in Karnataka's Bidar and Gulbarga districts, where re-sowing was forced by an abrupt June dry spell.
Frequently asked
- How much arhar area has been sown in India as of July 17, 2026?
- Total arhar coverage stood at 24.80 lakh hectares as of July 17, 2026, compared with 30.17 lakh hectares recorded on the same date in 2024 — an 18% year-on-year decline.
- Which state has seen the sharpest fall in arhar sowing this season?
- Karnataka has recorded the steepest decline, with arhar area falling 42% to 6.56 lakh hectares from 11.25 lakh hectares a year ago. Farmers in Bidar and Gulbarga districts were also forced to re-sow the crop after rains stopped in June.
- What is the government's arhar area and production target for kharif 2026?
- The government has targeted more than 50 lakh hectares under arhar so that domestic production reaches at least 4 million tonnes in 2026.
- How long is the arhar sowing window this year, and can farmers still plant?
- According to IIPR's Aditya Pratap, the sowing window has extended to around August 10 this year due to delayed and deficient rainfall. Farmers growing medium-duration varieties can sow until the first week of August, while those choosing short-duration arhar should complete sowing by end of July.
Source
This report summarises and analyses coverage from The Hindu BusinessLine — Agri Business. The analysis and India context are IndianAgri's own.