Prospects of Higher Maize and Barley Production in the Rabi Season

01-Jan-2026 01:54 PM

New Delhi. Compared to last year, a notable increase is being seen in the sown area of rabi maize and barley this season, while weather conditions have largely remained normal. Maize is cultivated in all three seasons—kharif, rabi, and zaid—whereas barley is a crop specific to the rabi season. The sowing process is now in its final stage.

According to official data, during the current rabi season the maize cultivation area has increased by 4 percent, or about 80,000 hectares, from 2.012 million hectares last season to 2.092 million hectares. Barley acreage has risen from 0.608 million hectares to 0.678 million hectares, an increase of 70,000 hectares. This year, the five-year average area for barley has been fixed at 0.563 million hectares, while the actual sown area has already exceeded this by 0.115 million hectares. Maize acreage, however, is still below its normal area.

The Union Ministry of Agriculture has set production targets of 14.5 million tonnes for maize and 2.05 million tonnes for barley during the current rabi season, both higher than the final revised output of the previous season. Based on the progress of sowing and prevailing weather conditions, the government expects these production targets to be achieved comfortably. While barley sowing is almost complete, maize cultivation is still ongoing. Bihar is considered the most important producer of rabi maize, and despite softer market prices in recent months, farmers there continue to show strong interest in maize cultivation. Similarly, Rajasthan is traditionally the largest producer of barley, where acreage has jumped from 0.33 million hectares last year to 0.449 million hectares this season.