Surging Market Rates Drive Chana Sowing Past Sikar Target by Twenty Percent Boosted by a Rs 2,000 per quintal price jump and residual soil moisture, farmers in Sikar have expanded gram cultivation across 60,000 hectares. A sharp rally in agricultural commodity mandis has triggered a substantial transformation across the agricultural fields of Rajasthan's Sikar district during the current Rabi season. Gram, which was commanding roughly 6,000 rupees per quintal until the previous year, has now touched 8,000 rupees per quintal in local grain markets. This rapid surge of nearly 2,000 rupees within a twelve-month span has prompted cultivators to pivot aggressively toward pulses. Anticipating substantially better profit margins than earlier years, agricultural households have embraced gram cultivation with high enthusiasm, pushing the sown area 10,000 hectares beyond the district target set by authorities. Sowing Milestones Exceed Official Projections The district agriculture department had projected a seasonal target of 50,000 hectares for gram cultivation during the 2026-27 Rabi cycle. However, current field reports confirm that actual acreage has already climbed to approximately 60,000 hectares. This achievement represents a 20 percent expansion over the initial municipal targets. Field officials observe that the window for planting typically remains open until November 15 to 20. With sowing operations still in progress across multiple belts, the total geographical coverage dedicated to gram is positioned to expand even further before the window draws to a close. Late Monsoon Rains Lay Ideal Soil Groundwork The dramatic jump in sowing numbers is not solely a market-driven reaction, as nature provided equally crucial support to the agricultural belt. Heavy rainfall recorded during September saturated agricultural plots with vital subsoil moisture, which proved immensely helpful across regions such as Khandela, Srimadhopur, and Neem Ka Thana. Immediately following the harvesting of Kharif crops, cultivators utilized this moisture window to prepare plots and broadcast gram seeds without delay. According to Pramod Kumar, a retired joint director of the agriculture department, field conditions are extraordinarily supportive of rainfed gram cultivation this season. Seed emergence across these tracts has been robust and consistent. He highlighted that if the belt receives timely winter showers, known locally as Mawath, during December and January, rainfed gram plots could deliver exceptional productivity and yield figures. Lower Costs and Minimal Irrigation Favor Pulses A key operational advantage driving the preference for gram over alternatives like mustard or wheat is its conservative water requirement. Wheat and mustard demand recurring irrigation rotations to sustain vegetative growth, whereas gram thrives comfortably in rainfed or partially irrigated soils. Farmers facing water constraints find pulses to be the most resilient choice for seasonal stability. Additionally, input expenses related to commercial seeds, synthetic fertilizers, and soil nutrients remain comparatively modest for gram. During the previous agricultural cycle, subdued prices had forced many growers to reduce pulse cultivation in favor of oilseeds like mustard. The present price recovery has reversed that calculation entirely. This appetite for pulses is also visible in lentil sowing, where actual planting reached 1,500 hectares against an initial target of 1,000 hectares across Sikar. Progress of Other Winter Crops Across the District For the entire 2026-27 Rabi season, Sikar district outlined an aggregate planting target of 2.96 lakh hectares across all food grains, oilseeds, and pulses. Field reports confirm that cumulative planting has already crossed the two lakh hectare threshold. Mustard, which holds an eighty thousand hectare target, has seen sowing completed across 64,000 hectares so far. In the case of wheat, which carries the largest individual allocation of 90,000 hectares, farmers have sown approximately 25,000 hectares to date. Barley sowing has reached 20,000 hectares against an anticipated goal of 35,000 hectares. Fenugreek planting stands at 1,685 hectares compared to its designated target of 5,500 hectares. Meanwhile, miscellaneous regional crops account for 15,000 hectares of actual sowing against an expected 28,500 hectares. With acreage locked in, farmers now watch winter weather trends, as favorable temperatures and seasonal showers will determine whether this expanded planting converts into strong harvest volumes. What this means for you The surge in gram cultivation acreage combined with strong open market pricing will bolster farm incomes while enhancing the overall domestic supply of pulses. • Across India: Expanded pulse coverage in traditional belts will likely stabilize retail dal prices once fresh harvests arrive in wholesale mandis. Stronger domestic output reduces import dependence and helps balance seasonal price spikes for urban consumers. • In Sikar: Local farmers stand to earn higher net margins due to reduced input expenditure and market realizations touching 8,000 rupees per quintal. Cultivators in rainfed tracts like Khandela, Srimadhopur, and Neem Ka Thana will benefit directly from high returns on low-cost acreage. • Groundwater Conservation: Shifting acreage from water-intensive wheat and mustard toward gram significantly moderates regional groundwater extraction during winter. Growers can maintain profitable output even with erratic tubewell discharge or localized water shortages. • Farming Preparations: Agricultural households must finalize remaining sowing before November 20 to ensure optimal seedling development. If winter showers delay beyond December, farmers will need contingency irrigation plans to maintain target productivity. Why this happened A combination of soaring wholesale prices, favorable post-monsoon soil moisture, and low operational expenses drove gram acreage far past initial government targets in Sikar. • Lucrative Market Realizations: Gram prices climbed from approximately 6,000 rupees per quintal last year to 8,000 rupees per quintal this season. This substantial gain of 2,000 rupees provided immediate financial incentive for growers to allocate more land to pulses. • Residual Subsoil Moisture: Heavy monsoon showers during September left farming soils thoroughly saturated across northern Rajasthan. Farmers in rainfed tracts were able to sow immediately after clearing Kharif produce without relying on artificial pre-sowing irrigation. • Lower Input Costs: Cultivating gram demands substantially less synthetic fertilizer, seed expense, and tubewell irrigation cycles compared to wheat or mustard. This modest operational outlay makes it a resilient, low-risk crop for smallholders. • Crop Cycle Reversal: Lower returns in the previous year had steered farmers toward mustard cultivation across the district. The sharp resurgence in pulse rates this autumn triggered an immediate structural shift back toward gram and lentils. Questions & Answers 1. What is the updated gram acreage recorded in Sikar district? Gram sowing has covered roughly 60,000 hectares against the projected target of 50,000 hectares, exceeding the plan by twenty percent. 2. How much have gram prices risen in agricultural mandis? Wholesale prices climbed by about 2,000 rupees within a year, rising from 6,000 rupees per quintal to 8,000 rupees per quintal. 3. Which regions in Sikar benefited most from rainfed conditions? Cultivators across Khandela, Srimadhopur, and Neem Ka Thana benefited heavily from residual September soil moisture. 4. What is the total Rabi sowing target for Sikar district? The administration established an aggregate Rabi target of 2.96 lakh hectares, with over two lakh hectares already planted. 5. How are mustard and lentil crops performing against their respective goals? Mustard has covered 64,000 hectares out of an 80,000-hectare goal, while lentils reached 1,500 hectares against a 1,000-hectare target. https://trendkia.com/en/rajasthan/dama-men-uchhala-ate-hi-sikar-men-chane-ki-buvai-ne-tore-rikorda-taya-lakshya-se-bisa-phisadi-age-nikali-kheti-60095 TrendKia — Har trend, sabse pehle.