Sowing of Rabi Crops Begins in Rajasthan

Jaipur. The campaign for sowing Rabi crops has commenced in the western state of Rajasthan, with the pace expected to pick up in the coming days. According to the latest weekly report from the State Agriculture Department, the total area sown with Rabi crops in Rajasthan reached 54,105 hectares by last week; this represents 0.45 percent of the five-year average area of ​​114.70 lakh hectares. It is worth noting that Rajasthan is the leading producer of mustard and also records the highest production of barley in the country. Additionally, it ranks among the top producers of gram (chickpea) and wheat.

The Agriculture Department's report indicates that sowing of cereal crops (wheat and barley) has not yet begun in the state, and the area sown with pulse crops stands at just 710 hectares, with gram accounting for 690 hectares of this total. This clearly implies that the majority of the sowing done so far has been for mustard and rapeseed. Farmers are expected to show great enthusiasm for mustard cultivation this season, driven by high wholesale market prices and a significant hike in the Minimum Support Price (MSP) announced by the Central Government.

The area under mustard cultivation has already reached 51,210 hectares, and sowing of linseed has also started. The total area under oilseed crops has been recorded at 51,215 hectares. In Rajasthan, intensive sowing of Rabi crops takes place between October and December, after which the pace slows down. Market prices for gram have also risen sharply. Production of gram and mustard is likely to increase significantly in Rajasthan, while the area sown with wheat may see a slight decline.