The area under Rabi crop sowing has surpassed 632 lakh hectares in India, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare's latest data released on Tuesday. The figures indicate that wheat is sown on approximately 320 lakh hectares, compared to 315.63 lakh hectares during the same period last year. Additionally, about 139.81 lakh hectares have been devoted to pulses, and 53.55 lakh hectares to Shri Anna and Coarse Cereals.
The Rabi season, which runs from October to March, is a critical period for crop cultivation in India. To support farmers, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) recently approved an increase in the Minimum Support Prices (MSP) for all key Rabi crops for the 2025-26 marketing season.
Notable among the MSP hikes is a Rs 300 per quintal increase for Rapeseed & Mustard, followed by Rs 275 per quintal for Lentil (Masur). MSP increases for other crops include Rs 210 per quintal for gram, Rs 150 per quintal for wheat, Rs 140 per quintal for safflower, and Rs 130 per quintal for barley.
This revision in MSP is aligned with the 2018-19 Union Budget's commitment to set MSP at a level at least 1.5 times the all-India weighted average cost of production. The projected margins over the all-India average cost of production are 105% for wheat, 98% for rapeseed & mustard, 89% for lentil, 60% for gram, 60% for barley, and 50% for safflower. The increased MSP is aimed at ensuring better returns for farmers and promoting crop diversification.
