New Delhi: India is projected to record its highest-ever foodgrain production, with total output estimated at 376.563 million tonnes in the ‘third advance estimates’ for 2025-26, nearly 18.8 million tonnes, or 5.3%, higher than last year’s 357.732 million tonnes. Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan congratulated farmers for the “historic achievement”, saying the estimates reflect the strong and resilient performance of Indian agriculture.
Releasing the estimates, the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare projected record production in several major crops, including rice, maize, groundnut, rapeseed and mustard, and sugarcane.
Rice production is estimated at a record 154.024 million tonnes, up by 3.84 million tonnes from last year’s 150.184 million tonnes. Wheat production is pegged at 120.657 million tonnes, an increase of 2.712 million tonnes over the previous year’s 117.945 million tonnes. Maize production has surged to a record 55.093 million tonnes, registering a sharp jump of 11.684 million tonnes from last year’s 43.409 million tonnes.
Production of ‘Shree Anna’, or millets, is estimated at 17.584 million tonnes, while total nutritious and coarse cereals output is projected at 74.472 million tonnes.
Among pulses, tur production is estimated at 3.592 million tonnes, almost unchanged from last year’s 3.624 million tonnes. Gram production is estimated at 12.514 million tonnes, up by 1.4 million tonnes from 11.114 million tonnes last year, while lentil production is estimated at 1.762 million tonnes.
Total oilseeds production is estimated at 43.059 million tonnes. Groundnut production has reached a record 13.074 million tonnes, rising by 1.132 million tonnes from last year’s 11.942 million tonnes. Soybean production is estimated at 12.596 million tonnes, while rapeseed and mustard production is projected at a record 13.768 million tonnes, up by 1.101 million tonnes from 12.667 million tonnes last year.
Among commercial crops, sugarcane production is estimated at a record 500.063 million tonnes, which is 45.452 million tonnes higher than last year’s output of 454.611 million tonnes. Cotton production is estimated at 29.024 million bales of 170 kg each, while jute production is estimated at 9.176 million bales of 180 kg each.
Chouhan said the estimates indicate that the production position of foodgrains, major cereals, oilseeds and commercial crops remains robust, with several crops expected to touch record levels.
He also highlighted the contribution of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and its institutions in boosting farm output through climate-resilient crop varieties, rain-fed farming technologies and grassroots dissemination of scientific research.
The minister said the Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan launched last year strengthened agricultural practices through direct outreach by scientists to farmers. Under the initiative, farmers received climate-resilient technologies, improved crop production techniques, rain-fed farming practices and scientific advisory support.
In 2025-26, ICAR released 339 crop varieties suitable for different agro-climatic regions, covering cereals, oilseeds, pulses, commercial crops and fodder crops.
During 2024-25, breeder seed production reached 109,370.2 quintals, while quality seed production stood at 433,114.7 quintals. The government said integrated innovations in soil and water management, climate-smart agriculture, digital soil intelligence and sustainable agricultural technologies played a key role in increasing production of major crops across the country.
(Cover photo by Zhao Yangjun on Unsplash)