Rabi crop sowing area increases to nearly 7.6 million hectares
04-Nov-2025 03:47 PM
New Delhi. Favorable weather conditions led to early sowing of Rabi crops this year, and farmers are showing strong interest in cultivating various crops. According to official data, the total Rabi crop production area increased to 7.58 million hectares by the end of October this year, representing an increase of nearly 1 million hectares, or 15 percent,
compared to the 6.59 million hectares sown during the same period last year. Except for paddy, maize, and sorghum, the acreage under all other Rabi crops is ahead of last year.
According to the latest weekly data from the Union Agriculture Ministry, the area under wheat, the most important food grain, increased from 2.3 million hectares to 3.3 million hectares in the current Rabi season, as of October 31, 2025, compared to the same period last year.
The production area of pulses crops also jumped by 26 percent from 16.50 lakh hectares last year to 20.80 lakh hectares this time.
Under this, the sowing area of gram jumped from 12.10 lakh hectares to 14.90 lakh hectares and the area of lentil increased from 1.90 lakh hectares to 2.60 lakh hectares. Good enthusiasm is being seen among the farmers towards the cultivation of pulses.
As far as oilseed crops are concerned, this time the farmers' focus is mainly on mustard. Its production area has jumped from 37.40 lakh hectares last year to 41.70 lakh hectares this time, due to which the total area of oilseed crops has also increased by 13 percent to 42.30 lakh hectares.
In the coarse cereals category, the area under maize production declined from 2.20 lakh hectares to 2.10 lakh hectares and the area under sorghum fell from 2.80 lakh hectares to 2.70 lakh hectares during the current Rabi season compared to last year. The area under paddy cultivation also declined from 4.50 lakh hectares to 3.70 lakh hectares this time.
For the current Rabi season of 2025-26, the Central Government has set a target of producing 1190 lakh tonnes of wheat, 158.60 lakh tonnes of rice, 145 lakh tonnes of maize, 118 lakh tonnes of gram, 19 lakh tonnes of lentils, 139 lakh tonnes of mustard and 20.50 lakh tonnes of barley.