Rabi sowing up 8.12 lakh ha over last year
Wheat, pulses, and oilseeds drive Rabi sowing growth
New Delhi: The Rabi sowing area for the 2025–26 season has recorded an increase of 8.12 lakh hectares over the corresponding period last year, reaching a total coverage of 580.70 lakh hectares as of 19 December 2025, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare. This growth reflects steady progress across key crops, including wheat, rice, pulses, and oilseeds, signalling continued agricultural activity as the country approaches the harvest season.
Wheat sowing has covered 301.63 lakh hectares, slightly above 300.34 lakh hectares in the previous year, indicating sustained focus on the staple crop. Rice has been sown over 13.35 lakh hectares, compared with 11.52 lakh hectares in 2024–25, reflecting incremental gains in irrigated regions. Pulses have shown a notable increase of 3.72 lakh hectares, with gram leading the expansion at 91.70 lakh hectares, up by 4.89 lakh hectares. Other pulses, including lentil, fieldpea, kulthi, urdbean, moongbean, lathyrus, and minor pulses, remain largely unchanged, maintaining the year-on-year stability of pulse cultivation.
Coarse cereals have been planted over 45.66 lakh hectares, a modest rise from 45.05 lakh hectares last year. Maize sowing has increased to 18.34 lakh hectares, while jowar has declined slightly to 19.62 lakh hectares. Small millets such as ragi and other minor cereals have recorded minor increases, while barley sowing has risen to 6.78 lakh hectares. These changes reflect regional adjustments in cropping patterns driven by climatic conditions, market demand, and input availability.
Oilseeds, led by rapeseed and mustard, cover 93.33 lakh hectares, up from 92.65 lakh hectares in the previous Rabi season. Rapeseed and mustard alone account for 87.80 lakh hectares, increasing by 1.23 lakh hectares, while safflower, sunflower, linseed, and minor oilseeds show minor year-on-year variations. The rise in oilseed cultivation is expected to support domestic edible oil availability and contribute to farmers’ income diversification.
The Ministry’s data indicates that the overall expansion in Rabi sowing is spread across both irrigated and rainfed areas, with farmers responding to favourable market prices, input support, and timely advisories on crop management. Analysts note that the increased coverage across wheat, pulses, and oilseeds will strengthen food security, support rural livelihoods, and enhance resilience in India’s agricultural sector.
With the Rabi season progressing steadily, the government continues to monitor sowing trends and ensure the availability of seeds, fertilisers, and irrigation support. Early sowing in key wheat-growing states and targeted interventions in pulse and oilseed regions are expected to sustain this positive trajectory, potentially boosting production volumes for the 2025–26 harvest.
– global bihari bureau
