Rabi crops production area improves and reaches close to 559 lakh hectares

17-Dec-2024 12:43 PM

The total area dedicated to Rabi crop cultivation in India has seen a notable increase, reaching 558.80 lakh hectares as of December 16, 2024, which is 2.13 lakh hectares more than last year's 556.67 lakh hectares. This growth in the sown area reflects the strong interest among farmers, despite somewhat unfavorable weather conditions.

However, there are variations across different crop categories. Wheat has seen a significant rise, with its cultivation area growing by about 9 lakh hectares, from 284.17 lakh hectares last year to 293.11 lakh hectares this season.

This increase can be attributed to farmers' enthusiasm, partly driven by wheat's favorable market prices, which are much higher than the minimum support price. In contrast, the area for paddy has slightly decreased from 123.71 lakh hectares to 123.27 lakh hectares, and areas for coarse cereals, such as barley and sorghum, have also declined.

Among pulses, gram (chickpea) is the only crop showing an increase in area, while lentils, peas, black gram, and green gram have seen reductions in sowing.

Similarly, the area under oilseeds, including mustard, groundnut, and linseed, has fallen compared to last year.

Despite this, the overall area for Rabi crops is expected to align with the five-year average, and the final production will depend on weather conditions, particularly rainfall, which is needed in many regions.