Wheat production target set for the current season

05-Nov-2025 08:23 PM

New Delhi. The central government has set a record wheat production target of 119 million tons for the 2025-26 Rabi season, which is 1.5 million tons more than the record estimated production of 117.5 million tons for the 2024-25 season.

Given favorable weather, adequate water reserves in dams and reservoirs, and high support prices, the government expects to achieve this ambitious wheat production target.

Furthermore, improved and developed wheat varieties, which have higher yields and weather resistance, are expected to be sown in larger areas.

Due to their greater ability to withstand the February-March heat, wheat crops of these varieties suffered minimal damage last season.

Although the sowing season has just begun, initial indications suggest that wheat may be sown across a large area, similar to last year.

This year, the wheat production area increased to 3.34 lakh hectares by October 31st, which is 1.06 lakh hectares more than the 2.28 lakh hectares sown during the same period last year.

Early wheat sowing is practiced in Punjab, Haryana, and western Uttar Pradesh, but due to unseasonal rains in October, soil moisture content in many areas is high. Delayed sowing there is a risk of a decline in the average wheat yield.

The central government has increased the minimum support price (MSP) for wheat by Rs. 160 from Rs. 2425 per quintal in the 2024-25 season to Rs. 2585 per quintal for the 2025-26 season, which may encourage farmers to increase their acreage.

In some states, wheat may also face competition from mustard and gram. This time the five-year average area of ​​wheat has been fixed at 312.35 lakh hectares and it is almost certain that the actual sowing area will reach this level.