Wheat acreage continues to show remarkable growth

17-Dec-2025 09:25 PM

New Delhi: Indian farmers are showing the most enthusiasm for wheat cultivation during the current Rabi season, as they expect to earn better incomes from it.

Although there has been an increase in the area under cultivation for crops like gram, maize, barley, and mustard compared to last year, this increase is limited.

This is because the prices of these crops are mainly influenced by market forces, and government procurement only begins when prices fall below the Minimum Support Price (MSP).

On the other hand, government procurement of wheat starts as soon as the new marketing season begins. This prevents farmers from being forced to sell their produce at low prices in wholesale markets.

Official data shows that the area under wheat cultivation in the current Rabi season has increased to 275.66 lakh hectares, which is 17.18 lakh hectares more than the 258.48 lakh hectares sown during the same period last year.

This year's five-year average area for wheat cultivation has been set at 312.25 lakh hectares, and it is expected that the wheat acreage will surpass this average in the next two to three weeks.

The Minimum Support Price (MSP) for wheat has been increased by Rs. 160, from Rs. 2425 per quintal for the 2024-25 season to Rs. 2585 per quintal for the 2025-26 season, which has greatly encouraged farmers. Wheat sowing has been completed in Punjab and Haryana.