India’s wheat production is estimated to reach a record high of 115.3 million metric tonnes (MMT) in 2024-25.

• This represents a 2% increase compared to 113.3 MMT produced in 2023-24.

About Wheat Production in India

• Wheat is a Rabi crop, sown between October-December and harvested during April-June.
• Wheat is India’s second most important cereal crop after rice and serves as a staple food crop in the northern and northwestern regions of the country.
• Wheat is a rich source of Calcium, Thiamine, Riboflavin, and Iron.
• Wheat Cultivation Area: Wheat ranks as India’s second-largest crop after paddy in terms of area coverage.
  • In 2023-24, the total area under wheat cultivation stood at 318.33 lakh hectares.
• Top Wheat-Producing States in India: Uttar Pradesh is the largest wheat-producing state, followed by Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Bihar, Gujarat, and Maharashtra.
• Major Export Destinations (2023-24): India exported wheat to Nepal, Iraq, South Korea, UAE, and Mongolia.
• India accounts for less than 1% of the global wheat trade.

Conditions favourable  for Wheat Cultivation

• Temperature Requirements; Requires 10-15°C during sowing and 21-26°C during ripening and harvesting.
• Rainfall Requirements: Optimal rainfall of 50-100 cm.
  • Excess rainfall can damage the crop.
• Sunlight Requirements: Needs bright sunshine during the ripening period for optimal growth.
• Impact of Frost and Hailstorms: 
  • Sensitive to frost at the flowering stage.
  • Susceptible to damage from hailstorms.
• Soil Type: Grows best in well-drained loamy and clayey soil.
  • Ideal pH: 6-8 (slightly alkaline to neutral).

Impact of Untimely Rains and Winds on Wheat Crops in India

• Wheat is sensitive to both heat stress and rain/ thunderstorms during the terminal grain filling and ripening period. 
  • This is the time when the crop’s earheads are heavy with grains. 
  • The more the weight accumulated from grain-filling, the more vulnerable is the crop to rain.
• These, when accompanied by high-velocity winds, make the stems prone to “lodging” or bending and even falling flat on the ground

Global Wheat Production

China, India, and Russia are the top three wheat-producing countries, contributing approximately 41% of the world’s total wheat production.