Early Rabi Sowing Gains Boost Acreage Across Key Crops by Amit Gupta, Kedia Advisory
Rabi crop sowing has made a strong early start this season, with total acreage rising 27% to over 130 lakh hectares (lh) from 102 lh last year, aided by timely Kharif harvesting. Wheat acreage has more than doubled to 22.72 lh, while oilseeds and pulses have also seen significant gains. Mustard sowing increased 15.6% to 53.35 lh, and chana acreage rose over 30%. The government has targeted 171.14 million tonnes (mt) of foodgrain production and 15.07 mt of oilseeds for 2025-26. If favorable weather continues, the early sowing momentum may help farmers achieve higher yields and meet production goals.
Key Highlights
* Total Rabi acreage up 27% to 130 lakh hectares.
* Wheat sowing more than doubled to 22.72 lakh hectares.
* Mustard acreage surged 15.6% to 53.35 lakh hectares.
* Chana sowing jumped over 30% from last year.
* Early Kharif harvest cleared fields, aiding timely Rabi planting.
Sowing of Rabi crops has picked up strong early momentum this season, supported by the timely completion of Kharif harvesting across major growing regions. The total area under Rabi crops has expanded by 27% to over 130 lakh hectares (lh) as of November 9, compared with 102 lh a year ago, according to data from the agriculture ministry.
A key driver of this early progress has been the rapid clearance of paddy fields. In Punjab, about 93% of the paddy crop has been harvested, while Haryana has cleared 78%, and Uttar Pradesh has completed 52%, paving the way for early wheat sowing. Consequently, wheat acreage has more than doubled to 22.72 lh from 9.98 lh last year.
The government has set an ambitious foodgrain output target of 171.14 million tonnes (mt) for the 2025-26 season, including 119 mt of wheat and 15.07 mt of oilseeds. The early planting trend, if supported by favorable weather, could help achieve these targets and ensure strong crop yields.
Among other crops, Rabi paddy acreage rose 8.3% to 6.18 lh, maize increased 13.6% to 3.21 lh, and barley acreage more than doubled to 1.12 lh. In pulses, total sown area climbed to 36.83 lh, driven by a sharp 30.7% rise in chana and a modest 6% increase in masur. The oilseeds area grew to 54.46 lh, led by mustard at 53.35 lh, marking a 15.6% annual rise.
Finally, early Rabi sowing progress signals a promising start for the season, with expanded acreage and favorable conditions likely to boost yields and support government production targets.
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