Rabi Sowing Falls 45.59% as Wheat, Pulses and Oilseeds Lag by Amit Gupta, Kedia Advisory
India's Rabi sowing reached 37.56 lakh hectares as of 30 October 2026, down 31.47 lakh hectares, or 45.59%, from 69.02 lakh hectares during the corresponding period last year. The decline was led by lower acreage in wheat, pulses and oilseeds. Wheat sowing fell 94.22% to just 0.19 lakh hectares, while total pulses declined 51.69% and oilseeds dropped 45.70%. Rapeseed and mustard acreage decreased 46.16% to 20.50 lakh hectares. However, groundnut and sunflower recorded year-on-year gains. The early sowing trend indicates slower planting progress across major Rabi crops.
Key Highlights
* Total Rabi sowing declined 45.59% to 37.56 lakh hectares against 69.02 lakh hectares last year.
* Wheat acreage plunged 94.22% to 0.19 lakh hectares, compared with 3.34 lakh hectares previously.
* Total pulses sowing fell 51.69% to 9.45 lakh hectares, led by lower gram and lentil acreage.
* Total oilseed acreage declined 45.70% to 20.97 lakh hectares, with rapeseed and mustard falling 46.16%.
* Groundnut sowing increased 62.12%, while sunflower acreage rose 30.41% year-on-year.
Agricultural commodity prices may receive underlying support from the latest Rabi sowing data, which indicates significantly slower planting progress compared with last year. Lower acreage in major crops such as wheat, gram, lentils and rapeseed-mustard could raise concerns over production prospects if the current gap persists. However, the data represents an early stage of the Rabi season, and subsequent sowing progress will be important in determining the overall supply outlook.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, total Rabi sowing reached 37.56 lakh hectares as of 30 October 2026, compared with 69.02 lakh hectares during the corresponding period last year. This represents a decline of 31.47 lakh hectares, or 45.59%. Wheat acreage stood at just 0.19 lakh hectares, against 3.34 lakh hectares last year, marking a sharp decline of 94.22%. Rice sowing also decreased by 3.76% to 3.16 lakh hectares.
Total pulses acreage declined 51.69% to 9.45 lakh hectares, compared with 19.56 lakh hectares previously. Gram sowing fell 58.91% to 5.90 lakh hectares, while lentil acreage declined 48.51% to 1.10 lakh hectares. Peas sowing also decreased 32.71% to 1.26 lakh hectares. However, urad and khesari recorded increases of 39.69% and 103.63%, respectively.
Oilseed sowing remained significantly lower at 20.97 lakh hectares, compared with 38.62 lakh hectares last year, registering a decline of 45.70%. Rapeseed and mustard acreage dropped 46.16% to 20.50 lakh hectares, while linseed declined 82.10%. In contrast, groundnut sowing increased 62.12% to 0.25 lakh hectares, and sunflower acreage rose 30.41% to 0.07 lakh hectares.
Slower Rabi sowing, particularly in wheat, pulses and rapeseed-mustard, could support price sentiment, although upcoming planting progress will determine the extent of production risks.
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