India’s Wheat Production Surges, Led by Resilient Varieties, Yet Procurement Challenges Remain

India’s wheat production has shattered expectations in the 2023-2024 crop year, potentially exceeding 115 million tonnes. This surpasses the government’s second advance estimate of 112.02 million tonnes and the official target of 114 million tonnes. The boost is attributed to the widespread adoption of late-duration and climate-resilient wheat varieties, which have led to a 4-5% increase in yields.

While this is excellent news for India’s food security, procurement of wheat remains uneven. Punjab and Haryana, traditional powerhouses of wheat production, continue to perform well. However, procurement issues persist in other states, highlighting regional disparities in India’s agricultural infrastructure.

Experts stress the importance of expanding procurement networks and storage facilities in these less-developed regions. This is essential to ensure farmers have fair access to government support programs and can receive fair prices for their crops.

This bumper wheat harvest provides India with a significant opportunity to strengthen its food security and stabilize domestic prices. However, addressing procurement shortcomings in certain regions is vital to ensuring that the benefits of this increased production are spread equitably across the nation.