Govt dismisses wheat loss concerns as procurement down 11%, calls 2025–26 crop ‘mixed but resilient’
India’s 2025–26 wheat crop remains “resilient” despite heat stress and untimely rains. Higher acreage, early sowing, and improved seeds are expected to offset losses, while procurement is picking up after initial delays, keeping overall production outlook stable.
The government on Sunday said India’s wheat crop for the 2025–26 season remains “resilient” despite weather-related challenges, dismissing concerns raised in some media reports about significant production losses.
In a clarification, the agriculture ministry said the current wheat season can be described as “mixed but resilient”, shaped by climatic adversities as well as adaptive measures taken by farmers.
A PTI report last week suggested that government agencies have procured 148 lakh tonnes of wheat in the ongoing rabi marketing season, a decline of 11.37% from the year-ago period.
“The lower procurement was due to late arrival of the crop in mandis. The procurement pace is picking up,” PTI quoted a senior Food Ministry official as saying.
The crop was sown across an estimated 33.4 million hectares, with higher acreage compared to last year due to early and timely sowing, the ministry said.
There has been no incidence of major insect pests or diseases during the season, the ministry said, adding that weed infestation remained low throughout the crop growth stages.
However, the government acknowledged that unusually high temperatures in February exposed the crop to heat stress, reducing the grain-filling period and impacting yields.
Untimely rainfall and hailstorms in some regions at the maturity stage are also likely to have caused localised damage to grain quality and output.
However, the overall production outlook remains “cautiously optimistic” owing to several compensatory factors such as increased sowing area, early planting and adoption of improved crop varieties.
The government noted that an additional 0.6 million hectares brought under wheat cultivation this season is expected to partially offset localised losses.
It also highlighted a higher varietal replacement rate, which has accelerated the adoption of high-yielding, climate-resilient and disease-resistant seeds, helping the crop withstand heat and other stresses.
“It is anticipated that the adverse effects of weather anomalies will be largely compensated by increased area, early sowing, and improved varietal adoption,” the statement said, adding that national wheat production is expected to remain stable compared to the 2024–25 season.
In Haryana, wheat arrivals in mandis have already exceeded the government’s procurement target of 75 lakh metric tonnes (LMT).
In Madhya Pradesh, the procurement target has been revised upward from an initial 78 LMT to 100 LMT following requests from the state government amid higher production estimates.
Maharashtra is also witnessing steady inflows, particularly from the Marathwada and Vidarbha regions, with total production for 2025–26 estimated at around 22.9 lakh tonnes.
“In view of the above, it is reiterated that while localised weather-related impacts have been observed, the overall wheat production scenario for 2025–26 remains stable and resilient, supported by increased acreage, improved agronomic practices, and enhanced varietal adoption,” the ministry said.
To Read more about Wheat News continue reading Agriinsite.com
Source : Upstox
