Rabi Crops Sowing Expands Beyond 580 Lakh Hectares, Signalling Strong Winter Crop Outlook

India’s rabi crop sowing has crossed the 580 lakh hectare mark this winter, reflecting improved planting conditions and raising expectations of higher agricultural output, according to data released by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.

As of December 19, the total area sown under rabi crops stood at 580.70 lakh hectares, up from 572.59 lakh hectares during the same period last year.

The year-on-year increase of 8.11 lakh hectares is expected to strengthen rural incomes and help moderate food inflation in the months ahead.

Wheat, the country’s key winter staple, recorded a modest expansion in acreage, rising to 301.63 lakh hectares compared with 300.34 lakh hectares a year earlier.

Farmers expanded the area under pulses, including urad, lentil (masur) and moong, to 126.74 lakh hectares, up from 123.02 lakh hectares last year.

Officials said the rise in pulse acreage is significant, given the government’s long-term focus on boosting domestic production to reduce import dependence.

Growth Across Other Crops

Coarse cereals and millets such as jowar, bajra and ragi also posted marginal growth. The area under these crops increased to 45.66 lakh hectares, up from 45.05 lakh hectares in the corresponding period last year.

Oilseed cultivation, particularly rapeseed and mustard, expanded as well, with acreage rising to 93.33 lakh hectares compared with 92.65 lakh hectares a year ago.

Officials attributed the overall increase in rabi sowing to favourable monsoon rainfall, which supported planting in rain-fed regions that account for nearly half of India’s agricultural land.

In addition, the government expects higher minimum support prices (MSPs) to reinforce farmer confidence. On October 1, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approved revised MSPs for all mandated rabi crops for the 2026–27 marketing season, announcing the rates well ahead of sowing to help farmers plan cropping patterns.

Under the revised structure, safflower saw the highest MSP increase of Rs 600 per quintal, followed by lentil at Rs 300 per quintal. Rapeseed and mustard, gram, barley and wheat recorded increases of Rs 250, Rs 225, Rs 170 and Rs 160 per quintal, respectively.

The MSPs adhere to the Union Budget 2018–19 policy of fixing support prices at least 1.5 times the all-India weighted average cost of production.

Officials estimate margins of 109 per cent for wheat, 93 per cent for rapeseed and mustard and 89 per cent for lentil, aimed at ensuring remunerative returns and encouraging crop diversification.

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