New Delhi, Nov 18: India’s rabi crop sowing has gained significant momentum this season, with total coverage reaching 208.19 lakh hectares as on 11 November 2025, surpassing the 188.73 lakh hectares recorded during the same period last year. The latest data released by the Department of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare highlights strong progress across major crops such as pulses, oilseeds, wheat, and coarse cereals.
Wheat and Rice Show Steady Expansion
Wheat, the largest rabi crop, has witnessed a sharp increase in sown area. This year, 66.23 lakh hectares have been brought under wheat cultivation, compared to 56.55 lakh hectares last year—marking a significant rise of 9.68 lakh hectares.
Rice has also registered a marginal rise, with 7.44 lakh hectares sown so far, up from 6.82 lakh hectares during the same period in 2024–25.
Pulses Register Strong Growth at 52.82 Lakh Hectares
Pulses continue to show robust expansion, with coverage reaching 52.82 lakh hectares, up from 48.93 lakh hectares last year—an increase of 3.88 lakh hectares.
Among individual pulse crops:
-
Gram: 37.43 lakh ha (↑ 3.39 lakh ha)
-
Lentil: 6.83 lakh ha (↑ 0.74 lakh ha)
-
Field Pea: 4.75 lakh ha (↑ 0.51 lakh ha)
-
Kulthi: 0.97 lakh ha (no change)
However, some pulses such as urad bean, moong bean, lathyrus, and other minor pulses have shown slight declines compared to last year.
Shri Anna & Coarse Cereals Cross 15.53 Lakh Hectares
The area under Shri Anna and Coarse Cereals has reached 15.53 lakh hectares, up from 13.50 lakh hectares last year—an increase of 2.04 lakh hectares.
Key contributors include:
-
Jowar: 8.82 lakh ha (↑ 0.61 lakh ha)
-
Maize: 4.26 lakh ha (↑ 0.63 lakh ha)
-
Barley: 1.83 lakh ha (↑ 0.61 lakh ha)
-
Ragi and small millets have also shown positive growth.
Oilseeds Exceed 66 Lakh Hectares
Oilseed crops have crossed 66.17 lakh hectares, compared to 62.93 lakh hectares last year—an increase of 3.24 lakh hectares.
The rise is driven mainly by:
-
Rapeseed & Mustard: 64.23 lakh ha (↑ 3.71 lakh ha)
-
Safflower and Sunflower also recorded moderate increases.
However, groundnut, sesamum, linseed, and other minor oilseeds saw declines in area coverage.
Overall Rabi Sowing Sees Strong Upsurge
The cumulative rabi sowing area now stands at 208.19 lakh hectares, marking a significant jump of 19.46 lakh hectares over the corresponding period of 2024–25.
Officials attribute the growth to favourable weather conditions, adequate soil moisture, timely availability of inputs, and improved irrigation coverage across major agricultural regions.
The ongoing sowing momentum indicates a promising outlook for rabi crop production in the 2025–26 season, boosting hopes for enhanced foodgrain output and improved farm incomes.
Photo by Rachel Claire: