Wheat Production In India: An Overview

Wheat is one of the most important crops in India, with a significant contribution to the country’s food security. It is grown in widely divergent climatic conditions across the country, where different environmental factors like temperature, water availability, and [CO2] may affect growth and yield. India’s wheat production has seen a steady increase over the years, with the total output reaching 106.84 million tons in 2022.

Major Production Highlights

At the national level, there is a shift in area, production, and yield of wheat from 2008–2009 to 2012–2013 vis-à-vis 2013–2014 to 2017–2018. The major wheat-growing states like Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan have witnessed positive changes in area and yield and production. Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, and Haryana were the major contributors to national production.

Increasing Production Trend

Wheat production has also shown an increasing trend, from 87.39 to 94.57 million tons from 2012–2013 to 2017–2018 with a magnitude of 7.18 million tons (8.22%). The maximum jump has been visible in Jharkhand and Madhya Pradesh that almost doubled up their wheat production from 9.45-16.32 million tons -0.22–0.38 million tons. The national productivity trend for wheat showed a marginal improvement, which has increased from 3009 kg/ha – 3100 kg/ha from 2012–2013 to 2017–2018.

Decline In Wheat Production

India’s wheat production is projected to have declined nearly 3 % to 106.84 million tons in the 2021-22 crop year. However, experts predict that India’s wheat production may set a new record this rabi season and surpass 112 million tons due to various factors such as favorable weather conditions and an increase of around 1.5 million hectares in the wheat acreage across the country, including in the agriculture-dominated states of Punjab and Haryana.

Major Factors Affecting Wheat Production

Broadly speaking, the factors that affect wheat production in India are categorized into two categories. 

• Climatic Factors- Such as temperature, precipitation, and drought type. 
• Soil Factors- Such as soil type, soil organic matter content; and nitrogen fertilizer input. 

Changes in world wheat production have nearly tripled since 1955 and have grown an average of 2.3 %  annually since 1951. India produces more wheat than China, with the total wheat production in India being 107.59 million tons.

Major Challenges Affecting Wheat Production

Currently, the major challenges regarding wheat production in India are:

• Increasing heat stress.
• A growing risk of new diseases like wheat rusts (yellow, black, and brown,) and leaf blight.
• Dwindling water supplies for irrigation.
• Regional disparity in Indian wheat production.
• Continuous adoption of rice-wheat systems on around 11 million hectares.

Insight

Wheat production in India has seen a steady increase over the years, with the total output reaching 106.84 million tons in 2022. With the impact of major factors affecting wheat production & India’s wheat production is projected to have declined but experts predict that India may surpass 112 million tons of production.

Read more: Indian Rice Congress Highlights The Importance Of Bio-Fortified Rice For Food Security And Nutrition