Putting to rest all speculations about a possible decline in wheat production, the government on Monday said India is set to harvest record 115.43 million tonnes (mt) of the cereal this year, which is higher than its own target of 115 mt and up from 113.29 mt in 2023-24 crop year (July-June). The roller flour millers’ federation has pegged the wheat output at 110 mt, also higher than its own estimate for the previous year.
Ministry of Agriculture has released the official estimates of crops grown during winter season of 2024-25, and according to it India’s rapeseed/mustard production is seen at 12.87 mt, gram (chana) at 11.54 mt, lentil (masur) at 1.82 mt and rice 15.76 mt.
In last Rabi season, the production of rapeseed/mustard was 13.26 mt, gram (chana) 11.04 mt, lentil (masur) 1.79 mt, barley 1.7 mt, maize 12.44 mt and rice was 14.6 mt.
The ministry has also updated the production estimates of Kharif crops, grown in monsoon season, based on their market arrivals.
The revised estimates show that rice production in Kharif season of 2024-25 was 120.68 mt, maize 24.81 mt, tur 3.51 mt, groundnut 10.43 mt and soyabean 15.13 mt.
Total foodgrains (rice, wheat, pulses and nutri/coarse cereals) production from both Kharif and Rabi seasons (zaid season excluded) in 2024-25 is seen 5 per cent up at 330.92 mt from previous year and it includes 166.39 mt from Kharif crops and 164.53 mt from Rabi season. Last year, the comparable foodgrains output from both seasons was 315.77 mt.
Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan said that the government has been continuously working for the development of the agriculture sector and also providing assistance and encouragement to the farmers through various schemes. “This has resulted in the production of agricultural crops increasing to record levels,” he said.
The average of crops received from the states has been verified with the information received from remote sensing by the weekly crop weather monitoring group and other agencies, the ministry said. While finalising the estimates, the inputs from stakeholders, including representatives of industry and other government departments were also considered, it said.