HYDERABAD: Telangana has recorded a 33.5% increase in Kharif crop sowing compared to the corresponding period last year, offering relief to farmers amid improved monsoon conditions, according to the latest satellite-based assessment by the Professor Jayashankar Telangana Agricultural University (PJTAU).
The report, prepared by the university’s Centre for Digital Agriculture and Technology using remote sensing and GIS technologies, was released on Wednesday by PJTAU Vice-Chancellor Prof Aldas Janaiah.
The assessment shows that 32.93 lakh acres had been brought under cultivation across Telangana as of July 29, 2026, covering 33.6% of the state’s normal Kharif cropped area of 98.13 lakh acres. During the corresponding period last year, 24.66 lakh acres had been sown, accounting for 25.1% of the normal area.
The state has recorded an increase of 8.27 lakh acres under cultivation, with the share of the normal Kharif area covered rising by nearly 10 percentage points, indicating faster sowing this season.
Releasing the report, Prof Aldas Janaiah said, “The favourable rainfall received during the early phase of the southwest monsoon had enabled farmers to take up cultivation on time.” He added that the anticipated El Nino conditions had so far had only a limited impact on the ongoing Kharif season.
District-wise analysis showed that Yadadri Bhuvanagiri led with 57.3% of its normal Kharif area sown, followed by Medchal-Malkajgiri (54.6%) and Jangaon (51.5%).
Maize, cotton form bulk of cultivated area
Khammam recorded the lowest sowing coverage at 16.5%, followed by Wanaparthy (17.3%) and Warangal (20.1%), indicating slower agricultural activity in these districts.
The university also observed that paddy, cotton and maize continued to account for the bulk of the cultivated area. However, unlike previous years, there has been an increase in the area under pulses and oilseeds.
Prof Janaiah attributed the trend to the state government’s awareness campaigns promoting crop diversification, which had encouraged farmers to shift part of their acreage to alternative crops.