New Delhi, May 27 (H.S.): Union Minister for Agriculture & Farmers Welfare and Rural Development, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, while releasing the Third Advance Estimates for major agricultural crops for the year 2025–26, said that the country’s total foodgrain production is estimated at 376.563 million tonnes. This is approximately 18.8 million tonnes, or 5.3 percent higher, than last year’s production of 357.732 million tonnes, making it the highest-ever foodgrain output recorded in the country. Shivraj Singh Chouhan stated that the government has been consistently working to strengthen agriculture and improve farmers’ prosperity, which is why agricultural production continues to show steady improvement.

Addressing the media on Wednesday, the Union Agriculture Minister said that according to the crop-wise summary, the total foodgrain production stands at 376.563 million tonnes. This includes record production levels of rice at 154.024 million tonnes, wheat at 120.657 million tonnes, and maize at 55.093 million tonnes. Production estimates for Shree Anna (millets) stand at 17.584 million tonnes, tur at 3.592 million tonnes, gram at 12.514 million tonnes, and lentil at 1.762 million tonnes. Similarly, total oilseed production is estimated at 43.059 million tonnes. Among oilseeds, groundnut production has reached a record 13.074 million tonnes, soybean production is estimated at 12.596 million tonnes, while rapeseed and mustard production has touched a record 13.768 million tonnes. Sugarcane production has also reached a record level of 500.063 million tonnes, while cotton production is estimated at 29.024 million bales and jute production at 9.176 million bales.

According to Shivraj Singh, a detailed crop-wise analysis shows that total rice production is estimated at 154.024 million tonnes, compared to 150.184 million tonnes in 2024–25, registering an increase of 3.840 million tonnes. Wheat production is estimated at 120.657 million tonnes, which is 2.712 million tonnes higher than the previous year’s 117.945 million tonnes. Production of Shree Anna is estimated at 17.584 million tonnes.

Total maize production is estimated at a record 55.093 million tonnes, which is 11.684 million tonnes higher than last year’s production of 43.409 million tonnes. A strong increase has also been recorded in the production of nutritious and coarse cereals, with total output estimated at 74.472 million tonnes. Gram production is estimated at 12.514 million tonnes, which is 1.400 million tonnes higher than last year’s 11.114 million tonnes. Lentil production is estimated at 1.762 million tonnes.

He further stated that among oilseed crops, total oilseed production is estimated at 43.059 million tonnes. Groundnut production is estimated at 13.074 million tonnes, which is 1.132 million tonnes higher than last year’s 11.942 million tonnes. Soybean production is estimated at 12.596 million tonnes. Rapeseed and mustard production is estimated at 13.768 million tonnes, which is 1.101 million tonnes higher than the previous year’s 12.667 million tonnes.

Shivraj Singh said that the Third Advance Estimates clearly indicate that the production scenario for foodgrains, major cereals, oilseeds, and commercial crops in the country remains strong, with several crops projected to achieve record production levels. He added that agricultural research carried out by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and its institutions has also played a significant role in the estimated higher production of major crops. These efforts include the development of climate-resilient crop varieties, rainfed production technologies, and the dissemination of research-based knowledge to farmers at the grassroots level.

In the year 2025–26, ICAR released 339 crop varieties for different agro-climatic regions of the country, including cereals, oilseeds, pulses, commercial crops, and fodder crops.

During 2024–25, breeder seed production reached 109,370.2 quintals, while quality seed production stood at 433,114.7 quintals.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar