At 354MT, India's foodgrain output hits an all-time high

NEW DELHI: India's foodgrain production is estimated to have increased 6.6%, the fastest pace of expansion in the last eight years, to reach a new high of 354 million tonne (MT) in 2024-25. All major crops, including paddy, wheat, maize, groundnuts and soybean, reported record output during the crop year.

Union agriculture minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan attributed the all-time record foodgrain output in 2024-25 to the Centre's farmer-friendly policies, including fair pricing, loss compensation and low-interest loans, and their proper implementation by state governments.



"Overall foodgrain production is increasing continuously...Pulses and oilseeds output has to be increased further, for which efforts are being made," Chouhan said while releasing the third advance estimates of the overall foodgrain output.

According to the estimates, wheat output was revised upward to 117 MT for 2024-25, compared with an earlier projection of 115 MT, while last year's production was at 113 MT. Paddy production is estimated at a record 149 MT, up from 138 MT in 2023-24, while maize output is projected at 42 MT. Coarse cereals production is estimated at 6 MT, higher than the previous year. Pulses production is estimated at 25 MT compared to 24 MT last year. Oilseeds production is projected at 43 MT, up from nearly 40 MT last year.

Soybean production is estimated at 15.1 MT and groundnut production is estimated at 11.2 MT, which is 2.1 MT and 1.7 MT more than last year's production. Similarly, sugarcane production is estimated at 450 MT.

Chouhan said due to increasing maize production, reducing costs, giving of fair prices, compensating for losses, giving loans at low interest rates and many other initiatives, the foodgrain reserves of the country are full.

"Production is increasing continuously," he said. "The production of pulses and oilseeds needs to be increased, for which efforts are being made," the agriculture ministry said in a statement.

This is also good news for the rural economy and it comes at time when there is global uncertainty.