Improved Prospects for Mustard Production Due to Significant Increase in Sowing Area

24-Dec-2025 09:23 PM

New Delhi: The sowing area for mustard, the most important oilseed crop of the Rabi season, has increased, and weather conditions remain satisfactory, raising hopes for improved production.

According to government data, the mustard cultivation area had increased to 87.80 lakh hectares by December 19, 2025, which is 1.23 lakh hectares more than the 86.57 lakh hectares sown during the same period last year.

Compared to last year, there has been a significant increase in the mustard sowing area in all the top producing states – Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, and West Bengal – during the current Rabi season, and the crop is developing well in almost all producing regions.

In many areas, new branches and leaves are emerging on the mustard plants, while in some regions, the flowering and pod formation process has also begun.

Harvesting of the early-sown mustard crop will begin in February, with a strong influx of the new crop expected from March onwards.

Although some areas are experiencing pest and disease infestations on the mustard crop, their spread and impact are quite limited, so there is no significant threat to the crop.

During the first half of the current month (December), there was a lack of rainfall in the producing areas, but the lower temperatures and adequate soil moisture have kept the crop in good condition.

There is a good stock of water available in dams and reservoirs for irrigation. Mustard sowing was completed on time in Rajasthan, but in some low-lying areas, resowing was necessary.