Wheat sowing in India lags behind last year’s pace due to rainfall deficit

Wheat sowing in India for the 2026/27 season has started more slowly than last year amid deficient monsoon rainfall and concerns over irrigation availability. According to the country’s Ministry of Agriculture, only 11 thsd ha had been planted with wheat as of October 23, compared with 27 thsd ha during the same period last year. This means that wheat sowing is currently lagging nearly 59% behind last year’s pace.

The main concern for farmers is the weak southwest monsoon, which lasted from June to September. According to the India Meteorological Department, rainfall during this period was 13% below normal. This has reduced residual soil moisture and lowered water levels in reservoirs and irrigation canals ahead of the winter crop planting season.

The most challenging conditions are reported in Punjab and Rajasthan, where rainfall deficits reached 38% and 22%, respectively. These two states account for approximately 31% of India’s wheat area, meaning limited irrigation availability could significantly affect the overall sowing campaign. Additional risks remain for farmers in Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and parts of central India, where a substantial share of agricultural production depends on rainfall.

Despite unfavorable weather conditions, the Indian government has set a wheat production target of 121 mln tons for the 2026/27 season. This is slightly above the previous season’s record harvest of 120.7 mln tons. Wheat was cultivated on 33.6 mln ha in the 2025/26 season. In India, wheat is typically sown during October–November and harvested in March–April.

Sowing is also lagging for other crops grown during the winter rabi season. As of October 23, total planted area stood at 1.8 mln ha, compared with 2.83 mln ha a year earlier. In particular, area planted with pulses declined to 327 thsd ha, while oilseed plantings fell to 1.34 mln ha. However, the sowing campaign is still at an early stage, and its progress in the coming weeks will largely depend on irrigation water availability and weather conditions.

Tags: wheat, India, wheat sowing