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Wheat sowing rises 2% to 33.4 Mn hectares boosting production outlook
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Wednesday, 14 January, 2026, 12 : 00 PM [IST]
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Our Bureau, New Delhi
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Wheat sowing in India has recorded a 2 per cent increase, reaching 33.4 million hectares in the ongoing rabi season, signalling a positive outlook for the country’s staple grain production. The rise in acreage reflects favourable weather conditions, improved soil moisture levels, and timely availability of inputs, offering relief to both policymakers and the food processing industry.
According to official estimates, higher sowing has been supported by adequate reservoir levels and smooth irrigation availability across key wheat-growing states. Major contributors to the increase include Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan, where farmers expanded acreage encouraged by stable market prices and strong procurement prospects.
Agriculture experts note that the increase in wheat coverage is crucial at a time when global grain markets remain volatile due to geopolitical uncertainties and climate-related disruptions. Higher domestic production will not only strengthen food security but also help maintain price stability in the retail market, especially for wheat-based food products such as atta, bread, biscuits, and noodles.
For the food and beverage (F&B) industry, the rise in wheat sowing is a positive development. Adequate raw material availability could help ease cost pressures faced by flour millers, bakery manufacturers, and processed food companies. Industry players have been grappling with elevated input costs over the past few seasons due to lower output and export restrictions. Improved production prospects may help stabilise supply chains in the coming months.
Government initiatives promoting high-yielding seed varieties, balanced fertiliser use, and mechanised farming have also contributed to higher farmer participation. Additionally, minimum support price (MSP) assurance and efficient procurement mechanisms have reinforced farmer confidence.
While the acreage growth is encouraging, experts caution that final output will depend on weather conditions during the grain-filling stage, pest management, and timely harvesting. Any unseasonal heat or rainfall could impact yields.
Overall, the increase in wheat sowing to 33.4 million hectares strengthens expectations of a comfortable harvest, offering optimism for farmers, consumers, and the food processing industry alike in the upcoming marketing season.
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