Rabi Crop Area 57 Lakh Hectares Below Normal Average
24-Dec-2025 01:01 PM
New Delhi: Sowing of Rabi crops is still underway in various parts of the country, although the process is almost complete in most areas.
As of December 19 this year, the total area under Rabi crops reached 580.70 lakh hectares, which is 8.10 lakh hectares more than the 572.60 lakh hectares sown during the same period last year,
but 57.11 lakh hectares less than the normal average area of 637.81 lakh hectares. It is noteworthy that the total area under Rabi crops in the entire 2020-25 season reached 659.40 lakh hectares.
Overall, compared to last year, an increase in the area under cultivation is being observed in all crop categories in the current Rabi season, including wheat, paddy, pulses, oilseeds, and coarse grains.
However, individually, some crops have seen a significant increase in sown area, while others have experienced a decline.
Compared to last year, the area under wheat cultivation in the current Rabi season improved from 300.35 lakh hectares to 301.65 lakh hectares, paddy area increased from 11.52 lakh hectares to 13.55 lakh hectares, pulses sowing area jumped from 123.02 lakh hectares to 126.74 lakh hectares,
and coarse grains area improved from 45.05 lakh hectares to 45.66 lakh hectares. The area under oilseed crops also increased from 92.65 lakh hectares last year to 93.33 lakh hectares this year.
However, significant increases in area have been observed only in some important Rabi crops, including wheat and paddy, as well as gram, maize, barley, and mustard.
On the other hand, the area under lentil, peas, urad, kulthi, khesari, jowar, groundnut, and linseed has declined.
The area sown with wheat was initially showing a significant increase compared to last year, but the difference has now narrowed to 130,000 hectares.
Good sowing of chickpeas and mustard is underway, which is expected to lead to some improvement in the production of pulses and oilseeds. However, the pace of sowing for other Rabi crops has slowed down.
While there has been no significant rainfall in most parts of the country for a long time, temperatures have dropped.