Oilseed Production Area Increases by 67,000 Hectares

23-Dec-2025 08:24 PM

New Delhi: Although the area under mustard and safflower cultivation is ahead of last year, sowing of groundnut and linseed is lagging behind. As a result, a marginal increase is being observed in the total area under Rabi oilseed crops.

According to the latest weekly report from the Central Ministry of Agriculture, the total area under Rabi oilseed crops in the current Rabi season, as of December 19, 2025, has improved to 93.33 lakh hectares, which is 67,000 hectares more than the 92.65 lakh hectares sown during the same period last year.

Interestingly, the area under oilseed crops in the current Rabi season has already surpassed the normal average area of ​​86.78 lakh hectares and is only 16 lakh hectares behind the total area of ​​93.49 lakh hectares covered during the entire Rabi season last year. Since sowing is still underway in many areas, the total area under cultivation may exceed last year's figures.

According to official data, compared to last year, the area under mustard, the most prominent oilseed, increased from 86.57 lakh hectares to 87.80 lakh hectares in the current Rabi season, the area under safflower increased from 60,000 hectares to 79,000 hectares, and the area under sunflower improved from 34,000 hectares to 39,000 hectares.

However, on the other hand, the area under groundnut decreased from 2.83 lakh hectares to 2.36 lakh hectares, and the area under linseed fell from 2.00 lakh hectares to 1.61 lakh hectares.

The area under sesame remained at 6-7 thousand hectares, the same as last year, while the area under other oilseeds improved from 24,000 hectares to 32,000 hectares.

As far as mustard is concerned, its normal average area is estimated at 79.17 lakh hectares, while the actual sown area has already surpassed this figure.

The area under mustard cultivation has also increased in the 2024-25 season. Sowing of mustard has been completed in most of the major producing regions.