Farmers Maintain Interest in Rabi Season Paddy Cultivation

23-Dec-2025 08:10 PM

New Delhi. Although most of the paddy production takes place during the Kharif season, and harvesting and procurement by the government are still underway, a good yield is also obtained during the Rabi season.

Rabi paddy cultivation is limited to certain states, and planting is currently in progress. Despite the extremely comfortable supply and availability of rice in the domestic market and the prevailing stable or declining prices, Indian farmers are showing keen interest in paddy cultivation because they have firm confidence that their produce will be purchased by government agencies at the Minimum Support Price (MSP).

For the 2025-26 season, the MSP for paddy has been increased by Rs. 69 to Rs. 2369 per quintal for the common variety and Rs. 2389 per quintal for the 'A' grade variety.

According to official data, the area under paddy cultivation in the current Rabi season has increased to 13.35 lakh hectares as of December 19, 2025, which is 1.83 lakh hectares more than the 11.52 lakh hectares recorded during the same period last year.

The total area under paddy cultivation in the 2024-25 Rabi season reached 44.73 lakh hectares, and the normal average area for the current 2025-26 season is estimated at 42.93 lakh hectares. This indicates that paddy cultivation will continue.