Wheat sowing area expected to increase in major producing states
26-Nov-2025 04:08 PM
New Delhi. Encouraged by better weather and higher minimum support prices (MSPs), farmers are showing great interest in cultivating wheat, the most important food grain of the Rabi season.
Significantly, wheat acreage is currently ahead of last year's level in almost all major producing states.
Interestingly, in Uttar Pradesh, the leading producer state, the wheat sowing target has been slightly reduced, but farmers' enthusiasm remains unchanged. Mustard is also being sown well there.
For the 2024-25 Rabi season, the central government had fixed the minimum support price for wheat at ₹2,425 per quintal, which has been increased by ₹160 to ₹2,585 per quintal for the 2025-26 season.
This has generated considerable enthusiasm among farmers. The Food Corporation of India will certainly purchase wheat at this price, and if farmers wish to sell their produce in the open market, they may still receive a price of ₹2,600 per quintal or higher.
A similar situation occurred in the 2024-25 season. According to government data, wheat production jumped to an all-time high of 117.9 million tonnes, but only 30.1 million tonnes of this amount could be purchased for the central pool.
The industry and trade sector purchased large quantities of wheat from farmers, resulting in a steady supply of this vital food grain in the open market and significant pressure on prices.
According to official data, the area under wheat production increased to 12.84 million hectares by November 21, 2025, an increase of 21.30 hectares from the 10.71 million hectares sown in the same period last year.
Heavy sowing has been observed in Punjab, Haryana, Western Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan. The normal average area under wheat cultivation this year is estimated at 312.35 lakh hectares, but the actual area is expected to far exceed this.
The sown wheat crop is progressing well, and there are no problems with seed germination. In Rajasthan, the wheat acreage has jumped from 18.53 lakh hectares last year to 25.42 lakh hectares this year.