Mustard sowing increases, but groundnut area declines

30-Dec-2025 08:32 PM

New Delhi. The sowing campaign for Rabi oilseed crops is nearing completion. Overall, the area sown is ahead of last year, primarily due to mustard.

According to official data, the total area under oilseed crops during the current Rabi season reached 94.29 lakh hectares by December 26, which is 1.04 lakh hectares more than the 93.25 lakh hectares sown during the same period last year.

The total area under oilseed crops in the entire 2024-25 Rabi season had reached only 93.49 lakh hectares, while the current season's area has already surpassed that. Moreover, the current area under oilseeds is significantly higher than its five-year average of 86.78 lakh hectares.

Compared to last year, the area under mustard, the most important oilseed crop in the current Rabi season, has increased to 87.80 lakh hectares,

which is considerably higher than the 86.57 lakh hectares sown during the same period last year and the five-year average of 79.17 lakh hectares.

Increased mustard sowing has been reported in Rajasthan, Gujarat, and other major producing states.

Among other Rabi oilseed crops, the area under groundnut decreased from 3.29 lakh hectares to 2.77 lakh hectares during the period under review.

The area under linseed remained around 2 lakh hectares and sesame around 10,000 hectares, which is almost the same as last year.

However, the area under sunflower improved from 34,000 hectares to 45,000 hectares, and safflower increased from 64,000 hectares to 83,000 hectares.