Wheat Sowing Begins in Some States; Acreage Lags Behind Last Year

New Delhi. Sowing of wheat—the most prominent food grain of the Rabi season—has commenced in some states across the country. However, the pace is notably slow; this is partly due to delays in the harvesting and clearing of Kharif crops, which has prevented fields from becoming available in a timely manner, and partly because of a lack of soil moisture in the fields.

Data from the Union Ministry of Agriculture indicates that, as of last week, the area under wheat cultivation has reached only 11,000 hectares—less than half of the 27,000 hectares recorded during the same period last year. It is worth noting that the Ministry of Agriculture had estimated total wheat production for the 2025-26 season at 120.7 lakh tonnes, a new record. For the 2026-27 season, the production target has been further increased to 121.0 lakh tonnes, an all-time high.

According to the Ministry, since wheat sowing has only just begun, it is premature to make any definitive projections. The government has increased the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for wheat by Rs 25 per quintal—raising it from Rs 2,585 per quintal for the 2025-26 season to Rs 2,610 per quintal for the 2026-27 season—which is expected to encourage farmers to cultivate the crop. A substantial quantity of wheat will be procured for the central pool at this support price. Wheat sowing typically takes place from October–November, while harvesting occurs from March–April.

According to official data, the area under wheat cultivation reached a peak of 336 lakh hectares at the national level during the 2025-26 Rabi season.