India rabi acreage was down 37% from a year earlier as of October 23, 2026, with slower mustard planting accounting for much of the early-season decline. The shortfall was especially pronounced in Rajasthan, the country’s leading producer of mustard and gram.

Key Takeaways

  • Total winter-crop sowing covered 17.78 lakh hectares, compared with 28.16 lakh hectares a year earlier.
  • Eastern Rajasthan recorded a 51% rainfall deficit from October 1 to 26, although recent rain may help planting in some districts.
  • The main wheat sowing window begins in the first week of November and lasts about two months.

India rabi acreage trails early pace

The Union Agriculture Ministry’s weekly update showed mustard planted on 13.10 lakh hectares as of October 23, down 38% from 21.03 lakh hectares a year earlier. One lakh equals 100,000.

Pulses covered 3.27 lakh hectares, compared with 4.39 lakh hectares a year earlier. Gram accounted for 2.21 lakh hectares, down from 3.77 lakh hectares. Winter-grown paddy had been transplanted on 1.02 lakh hectares, compared with 2.13 lakh hectares.

These are early sowing figures rather than final planted areas. In Rajasthan, recent rain in some districts could help farmers increase mustard and gram sowing.

Rainfall and wheat planting outlook

Eastern Rajasthan received 7.2 millimetres of rain between October 1 and 26, against a normal 14.5 millimetres. Western Rajasthan received 2.8 millimetres against a normal 7.5 millimetres, a 63% deficit.

Wheat had been sown on 11,000 hectares nationally, compared with 27,000 hectares a year earlier. Officials said inadequate soil moisture had previously hindered sowing, while high daytime temperatures were currently unfavourable. They expect planting to pick up as temperatures cool, with soil moisture now adequate.

A senior official cautioned that wheat acreage may decline because of drought in Maharashtra and Karnataka. The government has set a wheat production target of 121 million tonnes and a mustard target of 14.3 million tonnes; those are targets, not harvest results.

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