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Informist, Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2025

 

--Farm minister: Target to raise food grain output for 2025-26 to 362.50 mln tn

--CONTEXT: Farm Minister Chouhan at a press conference 

--Farm Minister: Food production in 2024-25 was 341.55 mln tn 

--Farm Minister: Food grain production seen rising on ample rains

NEW DELHI - The government has raised the food grain production estimate for crop year 2025-26 (Jul-Jun) to 362.50 million tonnes, from 354.64 million tonnes projected a month before sowing of kharif crops began. The estimate has been increased on the back of above normal rains in the southwest monsoon season, Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said.

 

The food grain production in 2024-25 was 354 million tonnes, higher that the target of 341.55 million tonnes, as per the government's third advanced estimates. 

 

While the minister did not give a break up of which grains will see a rise, it is likely that production of maize, paddy, and wheat will be at record levels. Data released by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Friday showed the total acreage area under kharif crops has risen 1.4% on year to 111.08 million hectares. The area under paddy and maize has seen a significant rise while that under oilseeds and cotton is down. Acreage under pulses has risen marginally by 1%. Paddy acreage has risen nearly 2% to 43.85 million hectares and that under maize has risen by about 13% to 9.48 million hectares.

 

According to the minister, the agriculture ministry will work to promote sowing of oilseeds and pulses and work on the yields of the crops to increase overall productivity.

 

The minister said that the government is working on ensuring enough seeds, fertilisers, and pesticides to support the the production of food grains. On shortage of urea in the country, the minister said working groups have been formed to ensure urea is not leaked into non-agricultural uses and states are being provided with fertilisers, as when the demand comes.

 

Chouhan said demand for fertilisers has risen this year due to heavy rainfall which has led to changes in crop patterns. "Ample rainfall led to an increase in area under cultivation which has been one of the prime reasons for this additional demand," he said. As of Monday, the country has received 853.0 millimetres of rainfall this season, 7?ove the normal for the period, according to the data by the India Meteorological Department.

 

Chouhan said a total of 22.9 million tonnes of seed are required to achieve the food grain production target. "We have an even higher quantity of around 25 million tonnes of seed available," he said.  End

 

Reported by Pallavi Singhal

Edited by Ashish Shirke

 

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