The total area sown under rabi crops this winter has increased by 16.4 lakh hectares to 634.14 lakh hectares as of January 2 this year, compared to 617.74 lakh hectares last year. This rise is anticipated to enhance production, leading to increased farmer incomes and aiding in controlling food inflation.
Official data reveals that the area under wheat cultivation has expanded to 334.17 lakh hectares from 328.04 lakh hectares in the same period last year. Additionally, the area dedicated to pulses like urad, lentils (masur), gram, and moong has risen by 3.44 lakh hectares to 134.3 lakh hectares from 130.87 lakh hectares last year.
Moreover, the area allocated for coarse cereals or millets such as jowar, bajra, and ragi has grown to 51.79 lakh hectares this season, up from 50.66 lakh hectares in the previous year. The area under oilseeds like rapeseed and mustard has also increased by 3.04 lakh hectares to 96.3 lakh hectares from 93.27 lakh hectares last year.
The expansion in sown area this season is attributed to favorable monsoon rains that have facilitated sowing in unirrigated regions, which constitute nearly half of the country’s farmland. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) had approved an increase in the minimum support prices (MSP) for all mandated rabi crops for the 2026-27 marketing season on October 1, 2025, to ensure profitable prices for farmers.
The MSP hike for various crops includes a significant increase for safflower at Rs. 600 per quintal, followed by lentil (masur) at Rs. 300 per quintal. Other crops like rapeseed & mustard, gram, barley, and wheat have also seen MSP increments of Rs. 250, Rs. 225, Rs. 170, and Rs. 160 per quintal, respectively. These adjustments align with the Union Budget 2018-19 directive of setting MSPs at a minimum of 1.5 times the All-India weighted average cost of production.
