Total rabi area rises by 6.87 lakh hectares year-on-year, signaling resilient farmer sentiment and steady seasonal momentum

India’s rabi sowing for the 2025–26 season is progressing on a firm footing, with total cropped area reaching 614.30 lakh hectares as of December 26, 2025, up 6.87 lakh hectares compared to the corresponding period last year, according to data released by the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare. The expansion reflects stable farmer confidence, adequate soil moisture in key belts, and supportive price signals across select crops.

Pulses Drive Incremental Growth

Pulses have emerged as the standout performer this season, with area coverage rising by 3.65 lakh hectares year-on-year to 133.44 lakh hectares. The increase is largely anchored in gram (chickpea), which recorded a sharp expansion of 4.66 lakh hectares, underscoring continued farmer response to favourable MSPs, strong domestic demand, and policy emphasis on protein security.

Lentil acreage also edged higher, while minor declines in field pea, kulthi, urd bean and lathyrus suggest crop substitution within pulse baskets rather than a structural retreat. Overall, the data points to pulses consolidating their position as a strategic rabi crop, both from a nutritional and import-substitution standpoint.

Wheat Acreage Stable, Rice Sees Early Gains

Wheat—the backbone of India’s rabi season—has maintained stability, with 322.68 lakh hectares sown, marginally higher than last year. The near-flat trend reflects both saturation in traditional wheat belts and farmers’ calibrated diversification toward higher-return crops where irrigation allows.

Rabi rice, though smaller in footprint, recorded a notable early increase of 1.89 lakh hectares, suggesting improved water availability and targeted cultivation in eastern and southern states.

Oilseeds Expansion Signals Structural Shift

Oilseeds posted a 1.04 lakh hectare increase, led decisively by rapeseed and mustard, which expanded by 1.23 lakh hectares to 87.80 lakh hectares. The trend reinforces a longer-term structural push toward edible oil self-reliance, supported by price incentives and improved varietal adoption.

While groundnut acreage declined modestly, gains in safflower, sunflower and mustard indicate crop switching rather than weakening oilseed intent.

Coarse Cereals and Shri Anna Remain Steady

Area under Shri Anna and coarse cereals remained broadly stable, with marginal net gains. Increased sowing of maize and barley offset declines in jowar, reflecting regional adjustments driven by feed demand, ethanol blending prospects, and market-linked returns.

What the Numbers Signal

The current rabi sowing pattern reveals three clear macro signals:

Risk-balanced farmer behaviour, with diversification away from over-concentration in wheat where margins are capped.

Policy-aligned cropping, particularly in pulses and oilseeds, aligning production incentives with food security and import-reduction goals.

Resilience despite climate uncertainty, suggesting that irrigation coverage, input availability and institutional procurement continue to anchor rabi decision-making.

Outlook

With sowing still underway in select regions, final rabi acreage could edge higher in January. If weather conditions remain favourable, the current area expansion—especially in pulses and oilseeds—could support price stability, ease import dependence, and strengthen farm incomes in FY26.

At a time when agriculture is increasingly viewed as a macroeconomic stabiliser, the 2025–26 rabi season is shaping up as a quietly supportive pillar of India’s broader growth trajectory.