Favorable rainfall has allowed the sowing areas of winter crops in India to increase to record levels.

Indian farmers have increased the sowing of winter crops, particularly wheat, rapeseed, and chickpeas, to almost record levels, as the abundant monsoon rains this year have improved soil moisture and reservoir water levels, allowing fields to be cultivated even in areas that typically experience rainfed farming and often remain fallow. The large sowing areas are expected to help India (the world's second-largest wheat producer) increase production, lower domestic prices, and allow limited exports of wheat flour. At the same time, increased rapeseed production will help the world's largest oil importer reduce its foreign purchases. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, in the current season (starting October 1), the area sown with winter crops has increased by 6.1% compared to the previous year to 47.9 million hectares, including: Wheat in India is mainly grown in the northern states of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and the central state of Madhya Pradesh. In the key ...