New Delhi, May 28: India has recorded its highest-ever foodgrain production at 376.563 million tonnes in the 2025–26 crop year, marking a major milestone for the country’s agriculture sector and reinforcing its position as one of the world’s largest food producers.
According to official estimates, the record output has been driven by strong performance across both kharif and rabi seasons, supported by improved rainfall distribution, expansion of irrigation coverage, and better adoption of high-yield crop varieties. Key staples such as rice, wheat, pulses, and coarse grains contributed significantly to the overall increase.
Government officials said the achievement reflects the impact of sustained policy efforts aimed at boosting farm productivity, including increased minimum support prices (MSP), enhanced procurement operations, promotion of climate-resilient farming, and wider use of digital agriculture tools. Schemes focused on soil health management, micro-irrigation, and fertilizer availability also played a key role in supporting farmers.
The Agriculture Ministry noted that buffer stocks of major foodgrains remain comfortable, helping stabilize supply in domestic markets and ensuring continued food security. The surplus production is expected to strengthen the Public Distribution System (PDS) and support welfare programmes across the country.
Experts highlighted that improved yields in wheat and rice were particularly significant this year, while pulses production also showed steady growth, reducing import dependence. At the same time, better supply conditions are expected to help ease price pressures in essential food items.
In addition, the agriculture sector has seen increased integration of technology, including satellite-based crop monitoring, AI-driven advisory services, and digital marketplaces that connect farmers more efficiently with buyers. These developments are gradually improving productivity, reducing post-harvest losses, and enhancing income stability for farmers.
Officials also emphasized the importance of continued investment in climate-smart agriculture, as changing weather patterns remain a key challenge for long-term sustainability. Efforts are underway to further strengthen irrigation infrastructure, promote crop diversification, and expand value-added agricultural processing.
The record production is expected to have a positive ripple effect across the rural economy, supporting farm incomes, agri-exports, and overall economic growth.