India Expects Record Kharif Crop Output in 2025-26: Shivraj Singh Chouhan

India is poised for a record-breaking Kharif crop output this year, thanks to favorable monsoon forecasts and proactive government initiatives. Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan expressed optimism during his nationwide "Viksit Krishi Abhiyan" tour, highlighting that food grain production during the Kharif season has seen a substantial increase of 31.23% since 2014-15.

Good Monsoon, Government Policies Raise Production Hopes

According to the third advance estimates from the Ministry of Agriculture, India produced 168 million tonnes of food grains during the 2024-25 Kharif season. Minister Chouhan noted that this trend is likely to continue, bolstered by expectations of a normal to above-normal southwest monsoon.

Speaking to PTI, he stated, “With our current efforts and a strong monsoon, we anticipate setting a new record in Kharif food grain output in 2025-26. This aligns with our goal to make Indian agriculture globally competitive and resilient.”

Kharif Crops and Rainfall Linkage

Kharif crops such as rice, millets, pulses, and oilseeds are predominantly sown with the onset of the southwest monsoon in June-July. A healthy monsoon boosts sowing across key agricultural regions, especially in rain-fed states. The minister emphasized that balanced fertilizer use, promotion of soil health cards, and reduction of counterfeit pesticides are key policy areas being addressed.

Viksit Krishi Abhiyan: Insights from the Ground

As part of his ongoing 15-day Viksit Krishi Abhiyan, Chouhan has visited 10 states so far. He mentioned that several farmers raised concerns about increasing pest resistance in some crop varieties and the growing circulation of spurious agrochemicals.

"Farmers have also highlighted the need for better price support in times of sudden price crashes," said Chouhan. Based on these insights, the ministry plans to develop short, medium, and long-term research strategies to address challenges in seed quality, pest control, and market resilience.

Oilseeds and Pulses: Road to Self-Reliance

While there has been noticeable improvement in the production of oilseeds and pulses, the minister cautioned that India still relies on imports for a significant portion of its domestic needs. He reiterated the government's vision of reducing dependence on imports and achieving agricultural self-reliance.

Strong Policy Push for Sustainable Farming

The agriculture ministry continues to strengthen farmer-centric programs, including:

• Wider implementation of Soil Health Cards

• Crackdown on fake and substandard pesticides

• Creation of targeted research and development frameworks

• Encouragement of climate-resilient crop varieties

As India moves into the 2025-26 agricultural year, experts and policymakers will be closely monitoring weather trends and policy outcomes to ensure farmers continue to benefit from record productivity and higher incomes.