Rabi sowing crosses 632 lakh ha, wheat sowing up, oilseeds coverage drops

Wheat, the primary Rabi crop, recorded a 1.38% year-on-year increase, with 320 lakh hectares sown compared to 315.63 lakh hectares in the same period last year.

Rabi sowing crosses 632 lakh ha, wheat sowing up, oilseeds coverage drops

The Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare has reported robust progress in the ongoing 2024-25 Rabi season sowing, with the total area covered exceeding 632 lakh hectares as of January 14, 2025. This is slightly more than 631.44 lakh hectares in the same period last year. 

Wheat, the primary Rabi crop, recorded a 1.38% year-on-year increase, with 320 lakh hectares sown compared to 315.63 lakh hectares in the same period last year. This is higher than the normal wheat area in the country, which is 312.35 lakh hectares. This is a good sign for foodgrain production in the country. The high prices of wheat in the market and the increase in MSP as well as the bonus given by state governments have encouraged wheat cultivation.

Pulses sowing remained steady at 139.81 lakh hectares, slightly above the 139.11 lakh hectares recorded in the previous season. Gram accounted for the majority of pulses acreage, covering 96.65 lakh hectares. Lentils were sown in 17.43 lakh hectares, slightly lower than 17.76 lakh hectares in the same period last year. The area under urad decreased from 5.02 lakh hectares to 4.95 lakh hectares this season, while the area under moong increased to 1.14 lakh hectares from 0.99 lakh hectares last season. There has been no significant increase in the area under pulses and it is still less than the normal area of ​​140.44 lakh hectares.

Coarse cereals, including Shri Anna, maintained consistent acreage, with 53.55 lakh hectares covered so far. This highlights farmers sustained interest in these crops, which play a vital role in food security and nutritional needs.

Oilseeds sowing showed a decline, with the area sown reaching 96.82 lakh hectares, down from 101.80 lakh hectares in the same period last year. Rapeseed-mustard, a key oilseed crop, registered a decrease, with 88.50 lakh hectares sown compared to 93.73 lakh hectares in the previous season. The decline in oilseed acreage poses challenges to achieving self-reliance in edible oils. Farmers' interest in oilseeds has decreased due to oilseed crops like mustard and soybean sold below MSP.

The sowing of most Rabi crops is nearing completion, and harvesting is expected to commence in April. The data reflects a mixed performance across different crops, with gains in wheat and stability in pulses and coarse cereals but a noticeable drop in oilseed coverage.

Progress of area coverage under Rabi crops as on 14th January 2025 

(Area in lakh hectare)

 

S.

No.

 

Crops

Normal Rabi Area (DES)

Area Sown

 

2024-25

 

2023-24

1

Wheat

312.35

320.00

315.63

2

Rice *

42.02

22.09

21.53

3

Pulses

140.44

139.81

139.11

a

Gram

100.99

96.65

95.87

b

Lentil

15.13

17.43

17.76

c

Fieldpea

6.50

8.94

8.98

d

Kulthi

1.98

3.13

3.13

e

Urdbean

6.15

4.95

5.02

f

Moongbean

1.44

1.14

0.99

g

Lathyrus

2.79

3.12

3.32

h

Other Pulses

5.46

4.45

4.04

4

Shri Anna & Coarse cereals

53.46

53.55

53.37

a

Jowar

24.37

23.58

25.46

b

Bajra

0.37

0.13

0.17

c

Ragi

0.74

0.69

0.68

d

Small Millets

0.15

0.16

0.00

e

Maize

22.11

22.37

20.36

f

Barley

5.72

6.62

6.71

5

Oilseeds

87.02

96.82

101.80

a

Rapeseed & Mustard

79.16

88.50

93.73

b

Groundnut

3.82

3.65

3.42

c

Safflower

0.72

0.70

0.71

d

Sunflower

0.81

0.74

0.43

e

Sesamum

0.58

0.20

0.37

f

Linseed

1.93

2.68

2.84

g

Other Oilseeds

0.00

0.35

0.29

 

Total Crops

635.30

632.27

631.44

 

 

 

 

 

Subscribe here to get interesting stuff and updates!