NewKerala.com

Rabi Crop Sowing Hits Record 208 Lakh Hectares Amid MSP Boost

Rabi crop sowing has surpassed 208 lakh hectares this fiscal year, showing strong agricultural growth. Pulses cultivation has increased significantly to 52.82 lakh hectares compared to last year. The government's MSP payouts have more than tripled since 2014-15, benefiting over 1.84 crore farmers. These developments reflect the success of agricultural policies ensuring minimum 50% returns over production costs.

Key Points: Rabi Crop Sowing Exceeds 208 Lakh Hectares This Fiscal Year

  • Rabi sowing exceeds 208 lakh hectares as of November 11 this fiscal year
  • Pulses coverage reaches 52.82 lakh hectares, up from last year's 48.93 lakh
  • Oilseeds cultivation crosses 66.17 lakh hectares with strong growth
  • Farmers to receive Rs 84,263 crore through MSP procurement for 2026-27 season
2 min read

Rabi crop sowing exceeds 208 lakh hectares this fiscal

Government reports record rabi sowing with pulses at 52.82 lakh hectares and oilseeds crossing 66.17 lakh hectares, supported by increased MSP benefits for farmers.

"MSP payouts to farmers have more than tripled from Rs 1.06 lakh crore in 2014-15 to Rs 3.33 lakh crore - Official Statement"

New Delhi, Nov 17

Rabi crop sowing has exceeded 208 lakh hectares this fiscal (as of November 11), the government said on Monday.

According to Agriculture ministry, 52.82 lakh hectare area coverage under Pulses has been reported as compared to 48.93 lakh ha during the corresponding period of last year.

Also, 15.53 lakh hectare area coverage under Shri Anna and Coarse Cereals has been reported this fiscal, the data showed, adding that oilseeds have crossed 66.17 lakh hectares.

Last month, the government said that with the increase in minimum support prices (MSP) for various crops announced for the rabi marketing season of 2026-27, farmers are expected to receive Rs 84,263 crore as the government's procurement is estimated at 297 lakh metric tonnes.

MSP payouts to farmers for the government's purchase of foodgrains have more than tripled from Rs 1.06 lakh crore in 2014-15 to Rs 3.33 lakh crore in July 2024 - June 2025, while procurement has increased from 761.40 lakh metric tonnes to 1,175 lakh metric tonnes over the same period, benefiting 1.84 crore farmers, the official statement said.

Since 2018-19, the government has been increasing MSPs for all mandated crops in line with the Union Budget 2018-19 announcement for setting up MSP at least 1.5 times the cost of production. This ensures a minimum return of 50 per cent over the all-India weighted average cost of production for all crops.

The Cabinet has approved the increase in the Minimum Support Prices (MSP) for all mandated Rabi Crops for Marketing Season 2026-27 on October 1, 2025. Further, the government has increased the MSP of mandated crops for the Kharif Marketing Season 2025-26 to ensure remunerative prices to the growers for their produce.

For the rabi marketing season 2026-27, margins over cost of production peak at 109 per cent for wheat.

- IANS

Share this article:

Reader Comments

P
Priya S
Good to see pulses cultivation increasing. We need to reduce our dependency on imports. Hope the government ensures proper procurement and storage facilities too.
A
Aman W
While the numbers look impressive, I hope small farmers are actually getting these benefits. In many villages, middlemen still exploit farmers despite MSP announcements.
S
Sarah B
The increase in oilseeds cultivation is crucial for our edible oil security. India imports too much palm oil - we need to be self-reliant in this sector. Good progress!
V
Vikram M
MSP tripling since 2014-15 is remarkable, but what about the increasing input costs? Fertilizer prices have gone up significantly. Need to consider net gains for farmers.
M
Meera T
Shri Anna and coarse cereals getting attention is wonderful! These traditional crops are more sustainable and nutritious. Hope this trend continues across states. 🙏

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

Leave a Comment

Minimum 50 characters 0/50