Bhubaneswar, Sept. 23 (UDN): Paddy cultivation in Odisha has covered 36.18 lakh hectares during the ongoing Kharif season as of September 19, 2026, according to the first advance estimates presented in the Odisha Assembly.
Deputy Chief Minister and Agriculture Minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo provided the figures in response to a question raised by MLA Pratap Kesari Deb.
Mayurbhanj Tops Paddy Coverage
The preliminary district-wise assessment shows Mayurbhanj recording the highest paddy coverage at 3.15 lakh hectares.
It is followed by Bargarh with 2.59 lakh hectares, Ganjam with 2.12 lakh hectares, Sundargarh with 1.98 lakh hectares and Balangir with 1.86 lakh hectares.
Coverage Lower Than Previous Year
The current paddy coverage remains below the levels recorded in the previous two Kharif seasons.
Odisha recorded 37.49 lakh hectares under paddy cultivation in 2024-25, while the figure rose to 39.42 lakh hectares in 2025-26.
Compared with last year’s coverage, the current preliminary figure is lower by around 3.24 lakh hectares.
Seven Districts See Increase
Despite the overall decline, seven districts have reported an increase in paddy cultivation area compared with the previous year.
Bargarh and Khordha have each recorded an increase of 0.16 lakh hectares, while Puri has added 0.14 lakh hectares and Cuttack 0.13 lakh hectares.
Nuapada has registered an increase of 0.03 lakh hectares, followed by Jagatsinghpur and Nayagarh, which have each recorded a rise of 0.02 lakh hectares.
Final Figures Yet To Be Released
The Agriculture Minister clarified that the 36.18 lakh-hectare figure is provisional and based on the first advance assessment.
The final area under paddy cultivation for Kharif 2026 will be determined after the completion of the agricultural season. The coverage could increase further depending on the actual area brought under cultivation.