New Delhi, April 26 (IANS). The government on Sunday refuted some media reports on 2025–26 wheat production, saying that while weather-related impacts have been observed in some areas, the overall wheat production position for 2025–26 remains stable and strong. This has been possible due to increased area, better farming practices and adoption of improved varieties.
The agriculture ministry said the current wheat season can be described as “mixed but resilient”, influenced by climate-related challenges on the one hand and strong adaptation measures adopted by farmers on the other.
According to the official statement, “No outbreak of pests and diseases was observed during this season in the wheat crop sown in an area of about 33.4 million hectares. The area has increased compared to last year due to timely and early sowing in the country.”
For example, the arrival of wheat in the mandis of Haryana has crossed the government’s procurement target of 75 LMT (lakh metric tonnes), of which 56.13 LMT has been procured so far. This is approximately 9 LMT more than the same period last year.
The initial procurement target in Madhya Pradesh was 78 LMT, but due to higher production estimates it has been increased to 100 LMT on the request of the state government.
Wheat production in Maharashtra for 2025-26 is estimated at about 22.90 lakh tonnes, showing a steady growth compared to recent years. Wheat arrivals remain steady in the state, especially from Marathwada and Vidarbha regions, till the end of April 2026.
At the end of the harvest season, the crop suffered from heat stress due to unusually high temperatures in the month of February, leading to reduced grain filling period and yield, the ministry said.
Additionally, grain quality and yield are likely to suffer locally due to untimely rainfall and hailstorms at harvest in some areas, although the overall production outlook remains cautiously optimistic due to several compensating factors.
“There have been no reports of production loss due to any disease or pest in the wheat crop. Also, weed infestation has remained low during crop growth. There has been a significant increase in timely and early sowing, which has helped the crop survive the late summer heat at grain filling,” the government said.
In particular, local losses are expected to be partially compensated for by planting an additional 0.6 million hectares in 2025–26.
Furthermore, increased replacement rates of improved varieties have led to the rapid adoption of high-yielding, climate-tolerant and disease-resistant varieties, which are better able to tolerate heat and biotic stresses.
The government said it is expected that the adverse effects of weather vagaries will be largely offset by increased area, timely sowing and adoption of improved varieties, resulting in stable wheat production at the national level over the 2024-25 crop season.
— IANS
SAK/VC
