Rabi crop sowing in India exceeds 632 lakh hectares

New Delhi [India], January 14 (ANI): Rabi crop sowing area has exceeded 632 lakh hectares in the country as per the data released by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare on Tuesday.

The Ministry added in a release that about 320 lakh hectares coverage under wheat has been reported as compared to 315.63 lakh ha during the corresponding period of last year.
About 139.81 lakh hectares have been covered under pulses and 53.55 lakh hectares under Shri Anna and Coarse Cereals.

The Rabi season runs from October to March.
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) earlier approved the increase in the Minimum Support Prices (MSP) for all mandated Rabi Crops for the Marketing Season 2025-26.
The government has increased the MSP of Rabi Crops to ensure remunerative prices to the growers for their produce. The absolute highest increase in MSP has been announced for Rapeseed & Mustard at Rs 300 per quintal followed by Lentil (Masur) at Rs 275 per quintal.
For gram, wheat, safflower and barley, there is an increase of Rs 210 per quintal, Rs 150 per quintal, Rs 140 per quintal and Rs 130 per quintal respectively.
The increase in MSP for mandated Rabi Crops for Marketing Season 2025-26 is in line with the Union Budget 2018-19 announcement of fixing the MSP at a level of at least 1.5 times of the All-India weighted average cost of production.
The expected margin over all-India weighted average cost of production is 105 percent for wheat, followed by 98 percent for rapeseed & mustard; 89 per cent for lentil; 60 per cent for gram; 60 percent for barley; and 50 percent for safflower. This increased MSP of rabi crops will ensure remunerative prices to the farmers and incentivise crop diversification. (ANI)