Mustard Sowing Increases - Crop Condition Improves

06-Jan-2026 08:39 PM

New Delhi. Farmers are showing keen interest in cultivating mustard, the most important oilseed crop of the Rabi season, this year. This is due to high wholesale market prices and a significant increase in the Minimum Support Price (MSP) announced by the government. 

Furthermore, weather conditions in the major producing states have been largely favorable for sowing. The sowing process is almost complete.

According to official figures, the total area under mustard cultivation in the last Rabi season was 86.57 lakh hectares, while in the current Rabi season, it has increased by 2.79 lakh hectares to 89.36 lakh hectares. This is 10.19 lakh hectares more than the five-year average area of ​​79.17 lakh hectares.

The major mustard-producing states include Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, West Bengal, Gujarat, and Bihar. Some states have seen a significant increase in the area under cultivation, and weather conditions remain favorable.

In some other states, the sowing area is less or similar to last year. However, overall, the crop condition is reported to be satisfactory, leading to expectations of improved production.

The area under safflower cultivation has also increased, and the area under sunflower cultivation is the same as last year, but the area under groundnut cultivation is lagging behind.

Linseed sowing was initially behind schedule but has now caught up. The new mustard crop will start arriving in the markets next month.