Record Wheat Sowing Boosts Rabi Area

06-Jan-2026 12:54 PM

New Delhi. A remarkable increase in the sowing of the most important food grain – wheat, the most important pulse – gram, the most important coarse grain – maize, and the most important oilseed – mustard, has boosted the total area under Rabi crops to 634.14 lakh hectares by January 2, 2026.

This is 16.40 lakh hectares more than the 617.74 lakh hectares sown during the same period last year, but 3.67 lakh hectares less than the five-year average area of ​​637.81 lakh hectares. The total area under Rabi crops during 2024-25 had reached 659.39 lakh hectares, compared to which the current area is still considerably lower.

According to data from the Union Ministry of Agriculture, the area under wheat cultivation at the national level during the current Rabi season has jumped from 328.24 lakh hectares to an all-time high of 334.17 lakh hectares compared to the previous season.

Similarly, the area under paddy cultivation increased from 14.90 lakh hectares to 17.57 lakh hectares, the area under pulses increased from 130.87 lakh hectares to 134.30 lakh hectares, the area under coarse grains improved from 50.66 lakh hectares to 51.79 lakh hectares, and the area under oilseed crops increased from 93.27 lakh hectares to 96.30 lakh hectares.

The area under wheat and oilseed crops has significantly exceeded the five-year average area, but the area under paddy, pulses, and coarse grains is still lagging behind.

Rabi paddy cultivation is continuing regularly in South India and will continue until the end of January.

Compared to last year, the area under chickpea cultivation has increased from 91.22 lakh hectares to 95.88 lakh hectares, the area under mustard cultivation has risen from 86.57 lakh hectares to 89.36 lakh hectares,

and the area under maize cultivation has improved from 21.87 lakh hectares to 23.32 lakh hectares. The area under barley cultivation has also increased, and sowing is now complete.