Sowing of Rabi Pulses Slows Down

16-Dec-2025 08:22 PM

New Delhi: The pace of sowing of Rabi pulses in India has now slowed down. Farmers' enthusiasm for cultivating lentils, peas, and horse gram, in particular, has waned. Sowing of mung beans is also lagging behind. If this trend continues, it may be difficult to surpass the five-year average area under cultivation.

According to official data, the total area under Rabi pulses in India had improved to 117.11 lakh hectares by last week, which is slightly more than the 115.41 lakh hectares sown during the same period last year, but significantly less than the five-year average of 123.78 lakh hectares. 

Furthermore, during the second week of December this year, 10.40 lakh hectares were sown with pulses at the national level, compared to 9.63 lakh hectares sown during the same week last year, while the average weekly sowing area has been 11.50 lakh hectares.

During the Rabi season, pulses such as chickpeas, lentils, peas, horse gram, and khesari are cultivated in the country, while urad and mung beans are also sown.

Urad and mung beans are also produced during the Kharif and Zaid seasons, while chickpeas, lentils, and peas are produced only during the Rabi season, and pigeon peas are produced only during the Kharif season.

Compared to last year, the area under chickpeas is increasing this year, but there are no clear indications regarding other pulses.

The area under cultivation fluctuates, sometimes exceeding and sometimes falling short of last year's figures. This uncertainty is likely to persist until the sowing process is complete.