Favourable weather pushes wheat sowing close to 90%

A sustained dip in temperatures has brought cheer to wheat growers across Haryana. With paddy harvesting now almost complete, nearly 90 per cent of the wheat sowing has been finished in the region. Farmers are now preparing for the first irrigation of the crop.

The state government has set a target of bringing around 63 lakh acres under wheat during the current financial year—an increase of 1.23 lakh acres compared with the previous Rabi season. In the 2024–25 Rabi season, the wheat sowing target was fixed at 61.75 lakh acres across the state.

Haryana has witnessed a notable drop in temperatures over the past 15 days, with a fall of around 6°C in the maximum temperature and 3–4°C in the minimum temperature, conditions considered ideal for wheat sowing.

Sowing began in the last week of October and is now nearing completion. However, some western districts are expected to continue sowing until December 10. In northern Haryana districts, sowing has been completed up to 90 per cent.

According to available data, Sirsa is the largest wheat-growing district, while Panchkula records the lowest acreage under the crop.

For the 2025–26 Rabi season, the government has fixed district-wise targets: 5.92 lakh acres in Hisar, 7.41 lakh acres in Sirsa, 2.67 lakh acres in Bhiwani, 2.64 lakh acres in Rohtak, 2.59 lakh acres in Jhajjar, 3.70 lakh acres in Sonepat, 86,450 acres in Gurugram, 83,980 acres in Faridabad, 4.19 lakh acres in Karnal, 2.10 lakh acres in Panipat, 2.86 lakh acres in Kurukshetra, 4.62 lakh acres in Kaithal, 2.34 lakh acres in Ambala, 2.61 lakh acres in Yamunanagar, 5.38 lakh acres in Jind, 76,570 acres in Mahendergarh, 86,450 acres in Rewari, 1.80 lakh acres in Mewat, 2.52 lakh acres in Palwal, and 91,390 acres in Charkhi Dadri district.

Bhagat Singh, a farmer from Bhainswan Khurd village in Gohana, said wheat sowing had “almost been completed” and farmers were now preparing for the first irrigation. “The climatic condition is better for the crop and if the weather continues to favour us, the wheat yield will be good this Rabi season,” he said. He added that there had been no shortage of DAP or urea.

Devender Kuhar, Sub-Divisional Officer, Haryana Agriculture Department, said that wheat sowing was almost complete across the state. “The current climatic conditions are favourable for wheat, whether early or late sown,” he said. He added that day temperatures of 20–22°C and night temperatures of 10–12°C were “suitable for the crop”.

He noted that the seed replacement ratio had also risen in the state. “Earlier, farmers relied on their own seed, but now they increasingly prefer certified seed from truthful agencies, which improves yield prospects,” he said.

Kuhar said the crop had now reached the crown-root initiation (CRI) stage. Farmers were advised to irrigate within 21 to 28 days of sowing. “Irrigation at the CRI stage is crucial for good quality and optimum yield,” he said.

Atma Ram Godara, Deputy Director Agriculture, Panipat, said early wheat sowing in the district was nearly 90 per cent complete, with the remaining expected shortly. Sowing concludes earlier in northern districts such as Sonepat, Panipat, Karnal, Kurukshetra, Kaithal, Yamunanagar and Panchkula, where paddy harvesting ends sooner. In western districts such as Hisar, Sirsa and Fatehabad, sowing typically stretches until December 10 as paddy harvesting continues longer, he said.