Kharif acreage falls 16%, but ethanol effect boosts sugarcane
India's kharif crop acreage has declined by 16% overall, yet sugarcane cultivation has increased due to government-backed ethanol demand. Farmers are prioritizing water-intensive cash crops over less thirsty alternatives like coarse cereals, despite concerns regarding water scarcity and monsoon performance.
Why it matters
This highlights the tension between government energy policy (ethanol blending) and agricultural sustainability in the face of climate-related water stress.
NEW DELHI: Overall acreage of kharif (summer-sown) crops in the country fell 16% as of last Friday, with most crops reporting a decrease in sown area compared to the same period in 2025. But farmers' love for water-guzzling cash crop sugarcane, in demand for ethanol, is intact despite pressure on water resources due to weak monsoon.Updated data, released by agriculture ministry Monday, showed acreage of sugarcane at 57.5 lakh hectares (LHa) as of July 10 was higher not only than acreage (56.7 LHa) of last year, but also normal acreage (average of last five years) of 54.2 LHa.Kharif sown area: Pulses, cereals, oilseeds show highest declineSome other cash crops, including jute and mesta, too reported higher acreage so far this year than the corresponding period in 2025. Around 50% of kharif sowing is completed by mid-July.
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