Sowing of rabi crops in India is progressing at a slower pace than last year, with wheat, pulses and oilseeds all recording lower acreage. According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare's weekly sowing progress report as of November 13, 2026, the total area under rabi crops stood at 178.25 lakh hectares, compared with 201.04 lakh hectares during the corresponding period last year. This represents a decline of 22.79 lakh hectares, or 11.34%, in overall rabi sowing.
The situation comes amid concerns over the impact of El Niño on India's agricultural outlook. The country received 13% below-normal rainfall during the southwest monsoon season, while several parts of eastern and northern India were affected by heavy rainfall in October. The potential impact of El Niño adds another layer of uncertainty to India's agricultural and food inflation outlook.
Wheat Sowing Lags 15.28% Behind Last Year
Wheat, the most important rabi crop, has recorded a particularly sharp decline in acreage. As of November 13, wheat had been sown across 50.07 lakh hectares, against 59.10 lakh hectares during the corresponding period last year, marking a decline of 15.28%.
The October rainfall disrupted the harvesting of kharif crops in several areas, delaying the preparation of fields and subsequent rabi sowing.
Umesh Kumar, a progressive farmer from Shamli district in Uttar Pradesh, told Rural Voice that unseasonal rainfall in recent days had damaged paddy and sugarcane crops while also delaying the sowing of wheat and mustard. In several places, farmers have been forced to resow mustard following rain-related damage, he said.
The Agriculture Ministry has estimated the wheat area for 2026-27 at 336 lakh hectares, compared with the normal area of 315.23 lakh hectares. Achieving this estimated acreage will require a significant acceleration in sowing over the coming weeks.
Maintaining foodgrain production during an El Niño year is particularly important for India's food security and efforts to contain food inflation. The government is already grappling with rising food prices and efforts to contain inflation in commodities such as sugar, rice, wheat and pulses. Any significant disruption to rabi production could complicate these efforts.
Pulses Sowing Declines 14.34%; Gram Acreage Down 21.59%
After wheat, pulses have also recorded a substantial decline in sowing. The total area under pulses stood at 47 lakh hectares as of November 13, compared with 54.87 lakh hectares during the corresponding period last year, representing a decline of 14.34%.
Among pulses, gram (chickpea) has witnessed the sharpest setback. Its acreage fell from 39.70 lakh hectares last year to 31.13 lakh hectares, a decline of 21.59%. However, lentil sowing increased by 13.89% to 7.66 lakh hectares. Urad acreage also rose by 13.59% to 0.91 lakh hectares.
The slowdown in pulses sowing is a matter of concern for domestic supplies. India relies on imports when domestic production of tur, gram, urad and lentils falls short of demand. Consequently, both the area under pulses this season and the eventual productivity of these crops will be crucial for ensuring adequate supplies and containing prices.
Mustard and Overall Oilseed Sowing
The decline in oilseed acreage is another concern, given India's substantial dependence on imports to meet its edible oil requirements.
According to the report, the total area under oilseeds stood at 61.71 lakh hectares as of November 13, compared with 66.62 lakh hectares during the corresponding period last year, marking a decline of 7.37%.
Rapeseed and mustard, the most important rabi oilseed crops, covered 59.31 lakh hectares, against 64.78 lakh hectares last year. This represents a decline of 8.45%.
There have been some positive signs in other oilseed crops. Groundnut acreage increased to 0.92 lakh hectares, while linseed sowing reached 1.04 lakh hectares, registering substantial increases over last year's corresponding levels. However, the gains in these crops are not sufficient to offset the decline in mustard acreage.
Sowing of Shri Anna (millets) and other coarse cereals also declined by 5.12% to 11.56 lakh hectares.
In contrast, maize acreage increased by 6.54% to 3.41 lakh hectares. With demand for maize rising from the ethanol industry and animal feed sector, increasing domestic maize production has become increasingly important.