Impact of Natural Disasters on Wheat Quality and Yield
27-Apr-2026 11:40 AM
New Delhi: Although the Union Ministry of Agriculture has projected that domestic wheat production will rise from 117.94 million tonnes in the 2024-25 season to reach an all-time high of 120.21 million tonnes in the current 2025-26 Rabi season,
a survey commissioned by the Roller Flour Millers Federation of India suggests otherwise. According to the survey, domestic wheat production in the 2024-25 Rabi season stood at 109.63 million tonnes—a figure that is expected to rise only marginally to 110.65 million tonnes in the ongoing 2025-26 season.
Releasing the "Annual Wheat Survey Report 2026" at an event held in New Delhi recently, Union Food Secretary Sanjeev Chopra announced that, in response to requests from state governments, the wheat procurement quota (target) has been increased from 30.3 million tonnes to 34.5 million tonnes.
Under this revised framework, the procurement target has been set as follows: increased from 7.8 million tonnes to 10 million tonnes in Madhya Pradesh; from 1 million tonnes to 2.5 million tonnes in Uttar Pradesh; from 2.1 million tonnes to 2.35 million tonnes in Rajasthan; and from 18,000 tonnes to 1.80 lakh tonnes in Bihar.
The Food Secretary advised flour millers to strive for self-reliance rather than depending on government stocks to meet their wheat requirements, suggesting instead that they procure the necessary quantities directly from farmers in the *mandis* (agricultural markets).
He further noted that the policy regarding the Open Market Sale Scheme (OMSS) is likely to be released prior to the commencement of the new sales season in July.
According to flour millers, despite the imposition of wheat stock limits over the past few years, many traders and stockists had purchased wheat at prices exceeding the Minimum Support Price (MSP) in the hope of future price appreciation; however, as prices failed to rise,
they ultimately incurred financial losses. Consequently, despite reports of crop damage caused by natural disasters during the current year, all traders and stockists are exercising caution in purchasing wheat.