Rabi Pulse Crops in Satisfactory Condition

03-Feb-2026 03:44 PM

New Delhi. The limited sowing of rabi pulse crops that was still underway in southern India has now been almost completed. Overall, there has been a notable increase in the national acreage under rabi pulses. In states such as Andhra Pradesh, farmers, in view of water scarcity, have focused on expanding pulse acreage in place of paddy.

According to official data, during the current rabi season, the total area under pulse crops has increased to 13.955 million hectares, which is 0.505 million hectares higher than the 13.452 million hectares sown during the same period last year. However, it remains slightly below the five-year average area of 14.042 million hectares. Chickpea (gram) has recorded the largest increase in acreage, while lentil (masur) and urad areas have also expanded.

Data from the Ministry of Agriculture indicate that compared to last year, the area under chickpea during the current rabi season has risen sharply from 9.122 million hectares to 9.620 million hectares. Similarly, the sowing area of lentil has improved from 1.766 million hectares to 1.812 million hectares, while urad acreage has increased from 0.567 million hectares to 0.606 million hectares. The area under moong has remained stable at 0.10 million hectares.

On the other hand, during the same period, the acreage of pea has declined from 0.827 million hectares to 0.792 million hectares, while the sowing area of kulthi (horse gram) has fallen from 0.241 million hectares to 0.198 million hectares. Although the area under khesari fluctuated during the season, it eventually improved from 0.292 million hectares to 0.298 million hectares. However, the acreage under other rabi pulses slipped from 0.537 million hectares to 0.530 million hectares.

Overall, the condition of rabi pulse crops is being reported as satisfactory.