India's total foodgrain production surged 5.3 per cent to an all-time high of 376.563 million tonnes in 2025-26, up from 357.732 million tonnes in the previous year, according to the third advance estimates of major agricultural crops released on Wednesday, 27 May 2025. The figure marks the highest foodgrain output ever recorded in the country's history.

Key Crop-Wise Figures

Rice production climbed to 154.024 million tonnes from 150.184 million tonnes in 2024-25, an increase of 3.84 million tonnes. Wheat output rose to 120.657 million tonnes, up 2.712 million tonnes over last year's 117.945 million tonnes. The standout performer was maize, which hit a record 55.093 million tonnes — a jump of 11.684 million tonnes over the previous year's 43.409 million tonnes. Millets production stood at 17.584 million tonnes, while total coarse and nutritious cereals output reached 74.472 million tonnes.

In pulses, gram production rose to 12.514 million tonnes, up 1.4 million tonnes from last year's 11.114 million tonnes. Tur output was estimated at 3.592 million tonnes, nearly on par with last year's 3.624 million tonnes. Lentil production came in at 1.762 million tonnes.

Oilseeds and Commercial Crops

Total oilseed production is estimated at 43.059 million tonnes. Groundnut output reached 13.074 million tonnes, up 1.132 million tonnes over the previous year. Soybean stood at 12.596 million tonnes, and rapeseed and mustard climbed to 13.768 million tonnes, an increase of 1.101 million tonnes year-on-year.

Among commercial crops, sugarcane production surged to 500.063 million tonnes, a sharp rise of 45.452 million tonnes over last year's 454.611 million tonnes. Cotton output is estimated at 29.024 million bales (each bale weighing 170 kg), and jute at 9.176 million bales (each bale weighing 180 kg).

What the Government Said

Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Shivraj Singh Chouhan called the figures a landmark. 'This marks the highest-ever foodgrain production in the country's history. The estimates reflect a strong and encouraging picture of India's agricultural progress,' he said. Chouhan attributed the gains to consistent policy focus under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, including direct farmer outreach and research-backed interventions.

Role of Agricultural Research

The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) released 339 crop varieties in 2025-26 suited to diverse agro-climatic regions, covering cereals, oilseeds, pulses, commercial crops, and fodder. The Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan, conducted last year, deployed scientists directly to farmers to disseminate climate-resilient technologies, improved production techniques, and rainfed farming practices.

Why This Record Matters

India's food security calculus is directly tied to domestic production — a buffer stock-driven system that relies on wheat and rice procurement, and increasingly on coarse cereals as nutritional policy shifts. The maize surge, in particular, has implications for the feed and ethanol blending sectors. This is the third consecutive year of production growth, reinforcing the trend of structural agricultural expansion even as climate variability poses persistent risks to rainfed farming.

With the kharif sowing season approaching and the India Meteorological Department projecting a normal monsoon, the government will be watching whether the momentum from 2025-26 can be sustained into the next crop year.