Union Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, announced that India aims for a foodgrain production target of 362.50 million tonnes for the 2025-26 Rabi season. The target was set during the National Agriculture Conference-Rabi Abhiyan 2025 in Delhi, in consultation with state agriculture ministers.
Key Highlights
- The target is about 2.4% higher than what was produced in the 2024-25 season, which recorded 353.96 million tonnes.
- Several major crops had record harvests last season including rice, wheat, maize, groundnut, and soybean.
- Seed availability has been assured: around 25 million metric tonnes of seeds are ready, against a requirement of about 22.9 million tonnes for the Rabi season.
Other Measures & Plans
- The theme of the Rabi Conference this year is “One Nation – One Agriculture – One Team”, aiming to strengthen coordination between the Centre, States, and Union Territories.
- The government also plans to launch the Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan from October 3. Over 2,000 teams of scientists, extension workers and officials will visit villages to support farmers with guidance and best practices.
- There will be special focus on improving yields of pulses and oilseeds, as well as ensuring quality of inputs like seeds, fertilisers and pesticides. Roadmaps specific to each State and UT will be worked out.
Why This Matters
- Strengthening foodgrain production is critical for ensuring food security, especially in challenging weather conditions and global supply pressures.
- With rising demand from a growing population and concerns about inflation, higher production can help stabilize food prices.
- Ensuring enough quality inputs (seeds, fertilisers) and scientific support at the grassroots level helps small farmers increase productivity.
