India, the world's second-largest wheat grower, is set for a record harvest as favourable weather and absence of major crop damage boosted yields, says a top official from a state-run institute
India's wheat production remains intact at a record 115.3 million tonnes this year, Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Monday said, asserting that the second advance estimate is unlikely to be impacted by any weather incidents. During a weekly review of agricultural activities, Chouhan highlighted that the wheat crop has nearly completed its maturity stage across all growing states. "The heat wave or high temperatures will actually expedite the harvesting process. Thus, the second advance estimates are unlikely to be impacted..." an official statement quoted the minister as saying. The agriculture ministry's second estimate, released in March, projected a record wheat output of 115.3 million tonnes for 2024-25 -- approximately 2 per cent higher than the previous year's 113.3 million tonnes. Wheat harvesting has been fully completed in Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Gujarat, with partial harvesting remaining in Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar as of May 2. The .
The government on Friday said that more than 60 per cent of wheat area planted during the rabi (winter-sown) season was under climate resilient varieties. In a written reply to Rajya Sabha, Union Minister of State for Agriculture Ramnath Thakur said, "The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) through its All India Coordinated Research Project (AICRP) on wheat has developed 114 varieties during the last 15 years which are suited to varying weather conditions. "...Out of total wheat area planted in the country during 2024-25, more than 60 per cent of wheat area is under climate resilient varieties. These climate-resilient varieties show less reduction in yield under stress environments," he added. The minister was replying to a question regarding the measures being taken to ensure that the wheat crop is not affected by rising temperatures in March. "The wheat varieties such as DBW187, DBW303, DBW327, WH1270, PBW872 have been developed and notified for the October planting an
The government has estimated 2025-26 wheat production to be a record over 115 million tonnes, higher than this year's 113.29 million tonnes
The cases of sudden hair loss reported in Buldhana district in Maharashtra in December and January are not linked to consumption of wheat supplied from ration stores nor does it appear to have been caused by water contamination, state minister Meghna Bordikar said on Thursday. The minister of state for public health was responding to a question raised by MLC Satyajit Tambe during a short-term discussion in the Legislative Council, in which legislators Kishor Darade and Vikram Kale also participated. "The hair loss cases reported in various villages of Shegaon taluka in Buldhana are a serious matter. A household survey has been conducted in all affected villages, and samples of water, soil, blood, and wheat have been collected for testing. These samples have been sent to Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) for analysis. Once the ICMR report is received, the exact cause of hair loss will be determined. Necessary action will be taken accordingly," Bordikar said. Health check-ups
Wheat production is estimated to rise by 2 per cent to record 1,154.30 lakh tonnes in the rabi season of 2024-25 crop year mainly on higher acreage, according to the government estimates released on Monday. Wheat output stood at 1,132.92 lakh tonnes in the preceding year. The Agriculture Ministry on Monday released the Second Advance Estimates of production of major crops (Kharif & Rabi) for 2024-25. Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said the central government is continuously working towards the development of the agricultural sector. He highlighted that the ministry is providing assistance and encouragement to farmers through various schemes, resulting in a record increase in agricultural crop production. The Second Advance Estimates covers Kharif and Rabi Seasons. The summer season will be incorporated in the Third Advance Estimates. The production of kharif rice in 2024-25 is estimated to rise to record 1,206.79 lakh tonnes from 1,132.59 lakh tonnes in kharif .
Some parts of northern India, including states such as Haryana, saw unseasonal rains and hailstorms in the last few days, damaging the standing crop in some areas
India, the world's second-biggest wheat producer, is counting on a bumper harvest in 2025 to avoid costly imports, after three consecutive years of poor crop yields since 2022
India is likely to harvest bumper wheat crop during the current rabi (winter-sown) season on the back of higher acreage and conducive weather conditions so far, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said on Friday. India produced a record 1,132.92 lakh tonnes of wheat in 2023-24. "We will have bumper wheat production this year. Crop health is good," Chouhan told reporters here. The area under coverage of wheat stood at 320 lakh hectare in the rabi season of 2024-25 crop year (July-June) as against 315.63 lakh hectare in the preceding year. Agriculture Secretary Devesh Chaturvedi, too, expected bumper wheat production in 2024-25 on the back of higher sowing areas. He said the crop condition is good so far with normal day-night temperature. On Thursday, the Department of Food and Public Distribution tightened the stock limit on wheat for wholesalers, retailers and processors to keep prices under check and asserted that there is ample stock of food grain in the country.
Rainfall across the country's northwest region, a major wheat growing belt, has been almost 80 per cent below normal since the beginning of the year, according to the India Meteorological Department
Despite continued price increases, exporters' margins remain low. In addition, bad weather at ports has had a direct impact on shipments
Wheat production in the state this year may remain almost equal to last year. Barley and gram production may rise while mustard is expected to go down, according to estimates
As the world's second biggest wheat producer, India is counting on a bumper harvest in 2025 to avoid costly imports, following three straight years of poor crop yields since 2022
According to traders, the price spike this time could last a little longer as the Centre's ability to intervene in the market through open market sales might get squeezed due to dwindling stocks
Area sown to wheat rose 2.77 per cent to Rs 324.38 lakh hectares so far in the ongoing 2024-25 rabi season, while oilseeds acreage remained lower, according to the agriculture ministry data released on Monday. Sowing of wheat, the main rabi (winter) crop, is completed and the harvesting will begin from April. As per the data, wheat acreage increased to 324.38 lakh hectare as on January 27 from 315.63 lakh hectares in the year-ago. Area sown to pulses rose to 142.49 lakh hectares from 139.29 lakh hectares, while sowing of coarse cereals remained flat at 55.67 lakh hectares so far this rabi season. However, total area under oilseeds remained lower at 98.18 lakh hectares as on January 27 as against 108.52 lakh hectares in the year-ago period. Total area sown to rabi crops rose to 655.88 lakh hectares from 643.72 lakh hectares in the said period.
Wheat sowing increased by 1.38 per cent year-on-year to 320 lakh hectare so far in the ongoing 2024-25 rabi season, according to the agriculture ministry data released on Tuesday. Wheat, the main rabi (winter) crop, was sown in 315.63 lakh hectare in the year-ago period. Sowing of most rabi crops is nearing end. Harvesting will begin from April. According to the data, pulses' acreage remained flat at 139.81 lakh hectare as on January 14, compared to 139.11 lakh hectare in the year-ago period. Gram was covered in 96.65 lakh hectare and lentil in 17.43 lakh hectare. Area sown to oilseeds was lagging behind at 96.82 lakh hectare as against 101.80 lakh hectare. Rapemustard seed was sown in 88.50 lakh hectare as on January 14 as against 93.73 lakh hectare a year ago. Sowing of coarse cereals remained flat at 53.55 lakh hectare so far in the ongoing rabi season.
This meeting of the IGC, a bilateral mechanism aimed at strengthening trade and investment ties, carried out a comprehensive review of the whole gamut of bilateral trade and economic relationships
Data from the National Innovations in Climate Resilient Agriculture predicts wheat yields may drop by 6-25% by the year 2100, while irrigated rice yields could fall by 7% by 2050 and 10% by 2080
Wheat stocks in state warehouses totalled 20.6 million tons at the start of December, slightly higher than the previous year's 19.2 million tons, but far below five-year average of 29.5 million
The government on Wednesday further tightened wheat stock holding norms for wholesalers, small and big chain retailers, and processors to curb hoarding and check price rise. "As part of continuous efforts to moderate prices of wheat, the central government has decided to revise the wheat stock limit applicable until 31st March 2025," the food ministry said in a statement. According to the revised norms, wholesalers are now allowed to maintain wheat stock up to 1,000 tonne instead of 2,000 tonne, retailer can hold 5 tonne for each outlet instead of 10 tonne, while big chain retailer can hold 5 tonne for each outlet instead of 10 tonne earlier. Processors will be allowed to maintain 50 per cent instead of 60 per cent of their monthly installed capacity multiplied by the remaining months till April 2025. The stock limits on wheat were first imposed on June 24 and later revised to tighten the norms on September 9 in order to manage the overall food security and to prevent hoarding and