Domestic wheat production expected to surpass 120 million tonnes

11-Mar-2026 04:09 PM

New Delhi. Domestic wheat production is expected to exceed 120 million tonnes in the current Rabi season of 2025-26, driven by an increase of over 6 lakh hectares in sown area and largely favorable weather conditions.

According to the second advance estimate of the Union Agriculture Ministry, domestic wheat production in the 2024-25 Rabi season was 1179.45 lakh tonnes,

while production in the current season of 2025-26 is expected to jump further to an all-time high of 1202.10 lakh tonnes. This will increase the overall availability of this important food grain in the domestic market and may exert pressure on prices.

The Food Ministry has set a wheat procurement target of 303 lakh tonnes this year, which is slightly higher than last year's actual procurement.

Analysts in the industry and trade sector say that the government already has a huge stock of wheat and if procurement is done as per the target during the current year, then the government stock could increase to a very high level.

Domestic wheat production is increasing regularly. The government has approved the export of 25 lakh tonnes of wheat and 10 lakh tonnes of wheat products, but its export offer price is not competitive because the international market price is running lower than the domestic market price.

This time the Minimum Support Price (MSP) of wheat has also been increased by Rs 160 to Rs 2585 per quintal, which may increase the difficulties for exporters.