India's rabi sowing is lagging behind last year's pace by 11.34%, with wheat, pulses, and oilseeds facing significant setbacks. As of November 13, 2026, the total area under rabi crops stood at 178.25 lakh hectares, down from 201.04 lakh hectares during the same period last year. The decline is attributed to a deficient monsoon, unseasonal rainfall, and growing concerns over the impact of El Niño on agricultural production.
Wheat, the most critical rabi crop, has seen a sharp decline in acreage, with sowing down 15.28% compared to last year. Only 50.07 lakh hectares have been sown so far, against 59.10 lakh hectares last year. Unseasonal rainfall in October disrupted kharif crop harvesting and delayed rabi sowing preparations. Umesh Kumar, a farmer from Uttar Pradesh, noted that recent rains damaged paddy and sugarcane crops and delayed wheat and mustard sowing.
Pulses sowing has also declined by 14.34%, with gram acreage down 21.59%. The total area under pulses is now 47 lakh hectares, compared to 54.87 lakh hectares last year. Meanwhile, oilseed sowing has decreased by 7.37%, with rapeseed and mustard acreage down 8.45%. The decline in oilseed acreage is concerning given India's reliance on imports for edible oils.
The government estimates the wheat area for 2026-27 at 336 lakh hectares, higher than the normal area of 315.23 lakh hectares. Achieving this target will require a significant acceleration in sowing over the coming weeks. The slowdown in rabi sowing raises concerns about food security and inflation, as the government already struggles with rising food prices.