Wheat Continues to Anchor Rabi Sowing
Wheat, India’s most important rabi crop, remains the backbone of the season’s sowing activity. The area under wheat has reached 334.17 lakh hectares, up by 6.13 lakh hectares from the same period last year. This increase also places wheat cultivation well above the normal rabi area estimate of 312.35 lakh hectares.
Agricultural experts attribute the growth to favourable soil moisture conditions in major wheat-producing states, timely irrigation availability, and stable minimum support price expectations. Wheat’s expanded footprint is expected to support food grain availability and buffer stocks in the coming year.
Pulses Register Strong Recovery Led by Gram
Pulses have emerged as another major contributor to the overall expansion in rabi coverage. The total pulses area stands at 139.55 lakh hectares, recording a year-on-year increase of 5.03 lakh hectares.
Gram alone accounts for nearly the entire rise, with acreage increasing by 4.98 lakh hectares to 96.20 lakh hectares. Lentil cultivation has also shown moderate growth, while urdbean and lathyrus recorded marginal gains. However, field pea and kulthi areas witnessed small declines compared to last year.
The rise in pulses acreage aligns with the government’s long-term focus on improving domestic protein availability and reducing import dependence.
Oilseeds Maintain Upward Trend
Oilseeds have continued their upward trajectory during the rabi season, with total coverage touching 97.19 lakh hectares. This represents an increase of 3.52 lakh hectares over the corresponding period of 2024-25.
Rapeseed and mustard remain the dominant oilseed crops, recording a gain of 2.79 lakh hectares. Barley-supported oilseed rotations and improved seed distribution have also aided sowing momentum. Groundnut, safflower and linseed registered modest increases, while sesamum saw a slight dip.
Coarse Cereals Show Mixed Performance
The area under Shri Anna and coarse cereals reached 60.93 lakh hectares, marginally higher than last year. Maize and barley emerged as the key gainers, adding 1.36 lakh hectares and 1.30 lakh hectares respectively.
On the other hand, jowar acreage declined by just over two lakh hectares, indicating regional shifts in cropping preferences. Ragi and small millets recorded limited but positive growth.
Overall Outlook Remains Stable
The total rabi crop coverage for 2025-26 now stands at 676.84 lakh hectares, surpassing last year’s level of 660.96 lakh hectares for the same period. The expansion reflects steady farmer confidence, supported by policy continuity, input availability and improved awareness of crop diversification.
The Ministry of Agriculture continues to monitor sowing progress across states, with further refinements expected as the season advances.
