Sharp 94.22% Decline in Wheat Sowing Area

New Delhi. While there has been a significant decline in the sowing of most crops during the current Rabi season compared to last year, the acreage for wheat—a primary food grain—has seen a particularly steep drop. According to the Union Ministry of Agriculture, the area under wheat cultivation stood at 3.34 lakh hectares by October 30 last year; this year, it has plummeted by 94.22% to a mere 19,000 hectares.

By the end of October, wheat sowing had not even commenced in several major producing states, while in other regions, the area sown remained negligible. The government has increased the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for wheat by Rs 25 per quintal—raising it

from Rs 2,585 per quintal for the 2025-26 season to Rs 2,610 per quintal for the 2026-27 season—but it is understood that farmers in some states are not satisfied with this figure. Delays in the harvesting of Kharif crops and a lack of soil moisture are also contributing to the sluggish pace of wheat sowing.