New Delhi, April 4 (NationPress) India has achieved a remarkable foodgrain production of 357.73 million metric tonnes (MMT) for the agricultural year 2024-25, reflecting an increase of 25.43 million metric tonnes (MMT) compared to the previous year. This milestone is attributed to continuous improvements in productivity, efficient management of inputs, and enhanced institutional backing for farmers, as reported in an official fact-sheet on Saturday.

The rise in output was mainly driven by the increased yields of rice, wheat, maize, and coarse cereals, including millets, often referred to as Shree Anna.

In addition, agricultural exports have shown consistent growth over recent years, with earnings climbing from $34.5 billion in FY20 to $51.1 billion in FY25, showcasing a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.2 percent. During FY25, agri-food exports, which include processed food products, reached $49.43 billion, representing approximately 11.2 percent of total exports.

The proportion of processed food exports has also steadily increased, rising from 14.9 percent in FY18 to 20.4 percent in FY25. This shift underscores a transition towards more value-added products within the agricultural export sector, according to the official statement.

Furthermore, the fact-sheet highlights that horticulture has emerged as a significant contributor to agricultural transformation and value addition. Total horticulture production surged to 362.08 million tonnes (MT) in 2024-25, indicating a structural shift towards high-value crops.

The second advance estimates show production growth from 280.70 million tonnes in 2013-14 to 367.72 million tonnes in 2024-25.

This output includes roughly 114.51 million tonnes of fruits, 219.67 million tonnes of vegetables, and 33.54 million tonnes from other horticultural crops.

India stands as the second-largest global producer of both rice and wheat, with production figures reaching 150.18 million tonnes of rice and 117.94 million tonnes of wheat in the agricultural year 2024-25.

Rice cultivation is predominantly found in states like Uttar Pradesh, Telangana, and West Bengal, while Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Punjab are the leading regions for wheat production, demonstrating the geographic concentration of cereal cultivation in the country.

The gradual increase in both foodgrain and horticultural production reflects India’s strengthening domestic agricultural foundation and its rising significance in global agri-food markets, according to the fact-sheet.