Telangana Kharif sowing lags 2020 peak despite excess rainfall

Despite early and above-normal 2025 monsoon rainfall, Telangana’s Kharif sowing lags 2020 levels by 3.55 lakh acres due to dry spells, urea shortage, rising input costs, and delayed irrigation. Paddy area rose slightly, while pulses and cotton showed moderate growth

Hyderabad: Telangana’s Kharif (Vanakalam) season, spanning June to September, primarily focuses on rainfed and irrigated crops such as paddy, cotton, maize, and pulses. The 2025 monsoon arrived early and delivered above-normal rainfall, up by 11-15% in key districts, marking one of the strongest seasons in recent years. This pattern was seen across much of India, where the favourable weather was projected to boost national Kharif sowing by 7-11%.

However, State-level data shows a contrasting picture. As of late September, the total sown area lagged behind the 2020 record of 133.55 lakh acres by approximately 3.55 lakh acres. Multiple factors contributed to the situation. Farmers in north Telangana districts were deprived of irrigation support from the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project during dry spells in June and July. Shifting preferences towards less risky crops, sharp hikes in input costs (seeds up 10-15%), labour shortages due to urban migration, and government policies promoting diversification away from water-intensive paddy also played a role.

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The actual cropped area was marginally below the season’s normal in 18 districts, including Suryapet (95.43% of target), Peddapalli, Medchal Malkajgiri, Yadadri Bhongir, Ranga Reddy, and Wanaparthy. In Suryapet and Yadadri Bhongir, delayed water release to the SRSP affected sowing. Paddy coverage reached 67.30 lakh acres, up slightly from 66.78 lakh acres last year. Pulses expanded to 6.16 lakh acres, compared to 5.84 lakh acres in 2024, while cotton acreage rose by more than one lakh acres. Much of this progress occurred in September, as farmers capitalised on late-season rains.

The season was further affected by an acute urea shortage from August, disrupting transplanting and expansion, particularly in districts like Mahabubabad. Farmers skipped or scaled back sowing on 5-10% of their land, adding to delays for pulses and oilseeds. Deficit rainfall in June and July limited initial sowing to rainfed areas. Later excess rains aided recovery, but uneven distribution left 24 out of 33 districts underserved by mid-July.

Delayed sowing reduced acreage by 20-30% initially. Paddy area, covering only 12% of the normal area by mid-July, reached 104% of normal by September. Low reservoir levels till the end of August, groundwater depletion, and delayed canal releases limited sowing. Only rainfed areas benefited from timely sowing. Lack of water pumping into reservoirs linked to the Kaleshwaram project until late August contributed to a 10-15% shortfall in water-dependent crops like paddy, keeping net area about 10% below peak potential even in September.

The shortage peaked in August, severely affecting transplanting and field expansion in districts like Mahabubabad. Farmers skipped or reduced sowing on 5-10% of land, adding to delays for pulses and oilseeds and capping overall net area growth.

– Big excess rainfall boosted paddy, yet total sowing lagged 2020’s peak by 3.55 lakh acres due to other crop shortfalls

– Cropped area was marginally less in 18 districts like Suryapet, Peddapalli, and Medchal Malkajgiri

– Seed costs surged 10-15%, worsened by August’s urea shortage that led farmers to skip 5-10% of acreage

– In June-July’s 12-42% dry spell delayed sowing by 20-30% in rainfed areas

– September rains allowed partial recovery, but uneven distribution kept net area 10% below potential