New Delhi, May 27 (PTI) India's foodgrain production is estimated to rise 5 per cent to record 376.56 million tonnes in the 2025-26 crop year ending June, mainly driven by an all-time high output of rice,
wheat and maize, according to government data released on Wednesday.
Better monsoon rains in 2025, along with the government's positive initiatives such as a hike in minimum support price (MSP), helped in achieving bumper production.
Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan credited farmers for this historic achievement.
As per the third advance estimates of major agricultural crops for 2025-26 released by the agriculture ministry, the country's wheat production is estimated to rise by 2.29 per cent to a record 120.65 million tonnes in 2025-26 crop year (July-June) despite some crop damage due to unseasonal rains and hailstorms.
Wheat production stood at 117.94 million tonnes in 2024-25.
The ministry had always maintained that the country's wheat production remains "stable and resilient despite localised damage" caused by unseasonal rainfall and hailstorms.
The total foodgrain production is projected to increase to 376.56 million tonnes for 2025-26 from 357.73 million tonnes in the previous year.
"This marks the highest-ever foodgrain production in the country's history," the ministry said in a statement.
"The Third Advance Estimates clearly indicate that the production position of foodgrains, major cereals, oilseeds and commercial crops in the country remains robust, with several crops projected to achieve record production levels," he said.
Chouhan noted that agricultural research undertaken by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research and its institutions played a crucial role in enhancing the production of major crops.
These institutes developed climate-resilient crop varieties, rainfed production technologies and disseminated research outcomes to farmers at the grassroots level, he added.
According to the latest estimates, rice production is estimated at a record 154.02 million tonnes in 2025-26 compared to 150.18 million tonnes in the preceding year.
Production of nutri/coarse cereals is estimated to rise to 74.47 million tonnes in 2025-26 from 63.92 million tonnes in the preceding year. The growth is driven by a sharp increase in maize output at a record 55.09 million tonnes against 43.4 million tonnes in the 2024-25.
In pulses, tur production is estimated at 3.59 million tonnes, marginally down from 3.62 million tonnes in 2024-25. Gram production is estimated to rise to 12.51 million tonnes from 11.11 million tonnes. Lentil production is estimated at 1.76 million tonnes.
In oilseeds, the total production is estimated to rise to 43.05 million tonnes from 42.98 million tonnes in 2024-25. Groundnut production is expected to rise to 13.07 million tonnes from 11.94 million tonnes.
Soyabean production is estimated to decline to 12.59 million tonnes from 15.26 million tonnes. Rapeseed and mustard production is set to rise to 13.76 million tonnes against 12.66 million tonnes in the preceding year.
Among commercial crops, sugarcane production is estimated at 500.06 million tonnes in 2025-26 against 454.61 million tonnes in the preceding year.
The cotton production is projected at 29.024 million bales (each bale weighing 170 kg) compared to 29.72 million bales in the previous year, while jute production is pegged at 9.176 million bales (each bale weighing 180 kg) against 8.48 million bales in 2024-25. PTI LUX MJH MJH BAL
BAL
