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Wheat sowing up 19% as Rabi acreage expands 12%, signalling strong start to the season
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Wednesday, 26 November, 2025, 08 : 00 AM [IST]
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Abhitash Singh, Mumbai
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India’s rabi season has begun on an optimistic note, with wheat—the country’s most crucial winter crop—recording a significant 19% increase in sowing compared to the same period last year. According to early estimates from agriculture departments across major producing states, the overall rabi acreage has also risen by 12%, indicating improved farmer sentiment backed by favourable weather, timely rainfall, and better soil moisture levels.
The surge in wheat sowing comes as a relief for policymakers and the food industry, especially after concerns around production fluctuations and market price volatility in the previous two years. Adequate soil moisture from an extended monsoon, coupled with cooler early-winter temperatures, has encouraged farmers across Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan to expand their wheat coverage.
Agriculture experts note that this momentum could help stabilise domestic wheat supplies and moderate market inflation in the coming year. “The early progress is highly encouraging. If weather conditions remain favourable in December and January, India may be on track for a strong wheat harvest,” an agri economist said, adding that higher sowing is a positive signal for both food security and the overall FMCG and food processing industries dependent on wheat-based products.
Apart from wheat, other rabi crops such as chana, mustard, barley and masoor have also seen higher acreage. Farmers in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh have expanded mustard cultivation due to good market prices last season, while chana acreage has picked up in Maharashtra and Karnataka following improved rainfall distribution.
The 12% gain in total rabi sowing reflects improved confidence among farmers, supported by better seed availability, enhanced irrigation in several regions, and proactive government measures like MSP assurances and input support. Industry watchers believe the strong start to rabi sowing could provide a boost to India’s food supply chain, flour milling industry, edible oil sector (through mustard) and the overall packaged foods ecosystem.
However, experts also caution that the final output will depend heavily on weather stability through January and February, especially the absence of acute cold waves or unseasonal rainfall.
For now, the numbers indicate a promising agricultural season ahead, with wheat leading the revival—raising hopes for improved supplies, price stability and healthier stocks in 2026.
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