Production Targets Set for Rabi Crops

New Delhi: The Union Ministry of Agriculture has announced production targets for various crops for the upcoming Rabi season (2026-27). Under this plan, the total foodgrain production target has been set at 1,777.20 lakh tonnes, comprising targets of 12.10 lakh tonnes for wheat, 172 lakh tonnes for pulses, and 2.23 lakh tonnes for coarse and nutritious cereals.

For the 2026-27 Rabi season, the government has set production targets of 123.30 lakh tonnes for gram (chana), 21 lakh tonnes for lentil (masoor), 143 lakh tonnes for mustard, and 24.20 lakh tonnes for barley. These are crops for which a Minimum Support Price (MSP) is determined. Additionally, the Rabi season sees the cultivation of several crops that are also grown during the Kharif season, such as moong, urad, maize, sorghum (jowar), ragi, groundnut, sunflower, and sesame.

The Ministry of Agriculture has set production targets of 167.20 lakh tonnes for rice, 166.90 lakh tonnes for maize, and 31.90 lakh tonnes for sorghum for the Rabi season. According to the Ministry, production during the 2025-26 Rabi season stood at 1,206.60 lakh tonnes for wheat, 181.10 lakh tonnes for rice, 200.20 lakh tonnes for maize, 18 lakh tonnes for barley, 30.10 lakh tonnes for sorghum, 125.10 lakh tonnes for gram, 17.60 lakh tonnes for lentil, 137.70 lakh tonnes for mustard, and 7.60 lakh tonnes for groundnut. In view of El Niño and a weak monsoon, production targets for rice and maize have been reduced this time, whereas targets for wheat, barley, and lentil have been increased. Rainfall is likely to remain deficient going forward as the impact of El Niño persists.