Paddy Cultivation Area Increases in Rabi Season After Kharif

28-Jan-2026 08:53 PM

New Delhi: Although the supply and availability of rice in the domestic market remain very comfortable and prices are stable, Indian farmers are showing no hesitation in cultivating paddy.

They know that the government agency will purchase almost the entire quantity of paddy from them at the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for the central pool.

The MSP for paddy for the 2025-26 season has been increased by Rs. 69 to Rs. 2369 per quintal for the common variety and Rs. 2389 per quintal for 'A' grade.

In the 2025-26 Kharif season, the total paddy production area at the national level surged to an all-time high of 44.01 million hectares, and good monsoon rains resulted in a good harvest.

The Food Corporation of India (FCI) and its associated state agencies are procuring a large quantity of paddy from farmers.

This process will continue until March 31, after which the government procurement season for Rabi paddy will begin on April 1.

According to official data, the Rabi paddy production area this year has increased to 3.103 million hectares by January 23, which is 180,000 hectares more than the 2.923 million hectares recorded during the same period last year.

It is noteworthy that the total paddy production area in the country during the entire last Rabi season reached 4.473 million hectares, suggesting that paddy cultivation may continue for some time this year. The current production is also significantly behind the five-year average area of ​​4.293 million hectares.

Interestingly, paddy is cultivated in all states of the country during the Kharif season, while in the Rabi season, it is cultivated in a limited number of states, mainly in South India.

The central government has set a rice production target of 158.60 lakh tonnes for the 2025-26 Rabi season and is confident of achieving it. India is the world's largest producer and exporter of rice.