Wheat Sowing Area Shows Reduced Growth

23-Dec-2025 03:16 PM

New Delhi: Although official data shows that the total wheat sowing area across India is approximately 1.30 lakh hectares ahead of last year, the rate of increase has slowed considerably. This clearly indicates a decline in farmers' enthusiasm and interest in wheat cultivation in some areas.

According to government data, the total wheat sowing area in the current Rabi season reached 301.64 lakh hectares by December 19, 2025, which is 1.30 lakh hectares more than the 300.34 lakh hectares sown during the same period last year.

The normal average area for wheat in the current Rabi season is set at 312.35 lakh hectares, against which the actual area is approximately 11 lakh hectares short.

With sowing still underway in some states, the total wheat area may exceed this normal average in the coming weeks.

Data from the Central Ministry of Agriculture shows that the total wheat area in the country during the entire 2024-25 Rabi season reached 328.04 lakh hectares.

It will be interesting to see whether the area in the current season reaches this figure, as the pace of wheat sowing has now slowed down.

Earlier estimates suggested that the total wheat area could exceed 330 lakh hectares this year. It is understood that farmers in Uttar Pradesh, the largest wheat-producing state, are giving priority to crops like mustard and chickpeas instead of wheat.

Other states have also not seen a significant increase in wheat area, while some states are even reporting a decline. The Minimum Support Price (MSP) for wheat for the 2025-26 season has been fixed at Rs 2585 per quintal.