The total area sown under rabi crops during the winter season has increased to 614.30 lakh hectares, up by 6.87 lakh hectares compared to last year. This rise is expected to enhance production, benefiting farmers and helping control food inflation. Specifically, the area under wheat has increased to 322.68 lakh hectares from 322.49 lakh hectares in the same period last year.
The sown area for pulses like Urd, Lentils (Masur), gram, and Moong has also expanded by 3.65 lakh hectares to reach 133.44 lakh hectares. Additionally, the area covered by coarse cereals such as jowar, bajra, and ragi has grown to 49 lakh hectares this season. Moreover, the area dedicated to oilseeds like rapeseed and mustard has seen an increase to 94.29 lakh hectares.
The rise in sown area this season can be attributed to favorable monsoon rains, facilitating sowing in unirrigated regions that constitute nearly half of the country’s farmland. Notably, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approved an increase in the minimum support prices for all mandated rabi crops for the 2026-27 marketing season to ensure better returns for farmers.
The hike in MSP for various crops includes Rs. 600 per quintal for Safflower, Rs. 300 per quintal for Lentil (Masur), and Rs. 250 per quintal for rapeseed and mustard. This move aligns with the Union Budget 2018-19’s aim of setting MSP at a minimum of 1.5 times the All-India weighted average cost of production. The increased MSP for rabi crops is expected to provide profitable prices to farmers and encourage crop diversification.
