Maize, mustard and gram expand sharply; half of normal rabi area expected to be covered this week
India’s rabi crop sowing has picked up strong momentum, with total acreage rising 12% year-on-year to 306.31 lakh hectares (lh) as of November 21. Wheat led the surge with a 19% jump, signalling a robust start to the winter cropping season.
The data, released by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, indicates that rabi coverage could hit 50% of the normal 637.81 lh by the end of this week — a level typically reached only in early December during many previous seasons.
Why Rabi Sowing Is Higher This Year
Two key forces have accelerated early-season sowing across India:
1️⃣ Exceptional Soil Moisture
- Prolonged SW monsoon showers into October
- Surplus NE monsoon rain through early November
- IMD data shows post-monsoon rainfall (Oct 1–Nov 19) was 27% above normal
- NW India received more than double its normal rainfall
- Central India got 52% above normal
2️⃣ Full Reservoirs & Higher MSPs
- Major reservoirs are at ~90% capacity, ensuring irrigation security
- Higher MSPs have encouraged farmers to expand wheat, pulses and oilseed acreage
- Early kharif harvest also freed up land earlier than usual
Crop-Wise Breakup: Wheat Leads, Mustard & Gram Strong
🌾 Wheat (up 19%)
- Area: 128.37 lh (vs 107.79 lh last year)
- Over one-third of normal wheat acreage already sown
🍚 Rice
- Marginal increase to 8.26 lh (up 0.67 lh)
Pulses: Up 8% Overall
Total pulses acreage: 73.36 lh (vs 68.15 lh)
Breakdown:
- Gram (Chana): 52.71 lh (up 9%)
- Lentils: 9.01 lh (up 44,000 ha)
- Kulthi & field pea: Higher
- Urad, moong, lathyrus: Lagging
Gram, which accounts for 70% of rabi pulses, is driving the expansion.
Nutri-Cereals / Shri Anna: Up 14%
Total area: 19.29 lh (vs 17.26 lh)
Highlights:
- Maize: 6.57 lh (vs 5.38 lh) — growing despite market prices below MSP
- Jowar: 8.99 lh (massive increase from 0.56 lh)
- Barley, bajra, small millets, ragi have all gained
Oilseeds: Up 5.4%
Total oilseed acreage: 76.64 lh
- Mustard/Rapeseed: 73.8 lh (up 6%) — continues to dominate India’s rabi oilseed basket
- Groundnut: Down marginally by 15,000 ha
- Linseed & minor oilseeds: Slightly lower
- Others: Higher
Outlook: Strong Start to Rabi Season
With high soil moisture, favourable temperatures, full reservoirs, and supportive MSP policies, India’s rabi sowing is off to one of its strongest starts in recent years. Analysts expect continued momentum in wheat, mustard, and pulses, strengthening prospects for higher rabi foodgrain output in 2025–26.
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