Kharif sowing has declined by nearly 23 per cent owing to a widening rainfall deficit, the slow progress of the monsoon and lower reservoir levels, according to data released by the Agriculture Ministry.The delayed and sluggish advance of the southwest monsoon has hit the planting of summer crops such as rice and cotton in key agricultural states.According to the latest figures released by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, the total area under kharif crops stood at 182.72 lakh hectares as of June 25, compared to 236.46 lakh hectares during the same period last year.This represents a decline of 53.74 lakh hectares, or nearly 22.7 per cent, highlighting the impact of below-normal rainfall during what is typically the peak sowing season.The shortfall was seen across major crop categories, with oilseeds, cotton, rice and pulses all recording lower acreage. Oilseeds recorded the steepest decline, with acreage falling by 19.42 lakh hectares to 16.99 lakh hectares from 36.41 lakh hectares a year ago. Within oilseeds, soybean sowing was the worst hit, down by 13.05 lakh hectares, followed by groundnut, which declined by 6.42 lakh hectares, the data showed.The slow start to the monsoon has left large parts of the country with dry fields and inadequate soil moisture, forcing farmers to postpone sowing operations while waiting for widespread rainfall. India is facing a 45 per cent rainfall deficit in June 2026.Rice, the country’s most important kharif crop, has witnessed a significant setback. Paddy cultivation has covered just 25.75 lakh hectares, down from 34.41 lakh hectares a year ago, marking a decline of 8.65 lakh hectares, or around 25 per cent.Cotton, another major kharif crop, has also suffered due to the delayed rains. The area under cotton has declined from 45.36 lakh hectares last year to 29.66 lakh hectares, a drop of 15.70 lakh hectares, or nearly 35 per cent.Sugarcane has been one of the few exceptions, with acreage increasing marginally from 56.64 lakh hectares to 57.31 lakh hectares.While the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast heavy rainfall over Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Bihar, Odisha and Vidarbha over the next few days, heatwave conditions continue in Bihar, Haryana, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh, delaying sowing in some northern regions.Reservoir levels have also added to the concern. Live storage across 166 major reservoirs is below last year’s level. Reservoirs are filled to 26.4 per cent of capacity against 36 per cent in the corresponding period last year, though they remain 5 per cent above the five-year average.Meteorologists expect monsoon activity to strengthen during the first week of July as low-pressure systems develop over the Bay of Bengal and the monsoon trough shifts southward.Timely rainfall over the coming days could help farmers accelerate sowing, but if the deficit persists, it may affect crop yields, food production and rural incomes in the months ahead.