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Rabi sowing gains momentum, crop coverage up by over 20 lakh hectares
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Wednesday, 21 January, 2026, 08 : 00 AM [IST]
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Our Bureau, New Delhi
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The Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare has released the latest data on Rabi crop sowing progress for the 2025-26 season, showing strong growth compared to the same period last year. As of 16 January 2026, the total area under Rabi crop coverage has reached 652.33 lakh hectares, marking an increase of 20.88 lakh hectares over the previous year.
Among the key crops, wheat cultivation has seen a notable increase, with area coverage rising by 6.13 lakh hectares compared to last season. Similarly, rice sowing has expanded by 4.61 lakh hectares, reflecting positive farmer participation.
Pulses, a critical source of protein and nutritional security, have also registered significant growth in area coverage up by 3.82 lakh hectares over the corresponding period last year. In particular, gram cultivation surged by 4.66 lakh hectares, underscoring farmers’ increasing focus on this essential Rabi pulse.
Other pulse crops, including lentil and moongbean, contributed to the overall rise, while some pulses like fieldpea and kulthi showed mixed trends.
Coarse cereals and oilseeds also exhibited favorable sowing progress. For coarse cereals, maize coverage expanded by 2.50 lakh hectares, and barley increased by 1.29 lakh hectares. In the oilseeds segment, rapeseed and mustard recorded an uptick, contributing to a 3.53 lakh hectare overall rise in this category.
The expanded area under Rabi crops reflects steady seasonal progress, driven by supportive weather conditions and effective implementation of agricultural support programmes across states. Continued monitoring is expected to further guide policy and field actions to ensure farmers’ interests and national food security.
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