WHEAT PRODUCTION IN INDIA

Wheat is one of the principal cereal crops grown worldwide and one of the important staples of nearly 2.5 billion of world population. Wheat is the major staple food crop, providing almost half of all calories in the region of North Africa and West and Central Asia. Being next to rice, wheat constitutes one of the key sources of protein in least developed countries and middle-income nations and in terms of calories and dietary intake.

India, being blessed and enriched with a diverse agro-ecological condition, ensuring food and nutrition security to a majority of the Indian population through production and steady supply particularly in the recent past, is the second largest producer of wheat worldwide.

Having a significant share in consumption of food basket with a 36% share in the total food grains produced from India and ensuring not only food security but also nutrition security, wheat is extensively procured by the government and distributed to a majority of the population; it ensures not only food security but also nutrition security.

China is the leading wheat producing country of the world. This is followed by India, Russia, United States of America, Canada, France, Pakistan, Ukraine, Germany and Turkey. These contribute about 76% of the total world Wheat production.

Production of Wheat in India

• Wheat is one of the chief grains of India and it has the second largest area under wheat cultivation. India is the world’s second-largest producer of wheat and the 10th largest exporter of wheat in the world.

• In financial year 2022, India's production volume of wheat during the rabi season was estimated to be over 106 million metric tons.

• Wheat cultivation in India has traditionally been dominated by the northern region of India. State-wise comparison of area and production for 2017–2018 shows that Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh and Haryana were the major contributors to the national production. However, Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh retained the status of higher productivity for many years.

• Potential exists for states like Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh to explore for additional wheat production in the coming years. Area under these states has to increase in yield at farmers’ field so as to attain higher production.

• Wheat is grown in almost all the states in the country however the major 5 states in wheat production are Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan. Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh produce 50% of the total quantity of Wheat produced in the country.

• The state with the Largest area under wheat cultivation are Uttar Pradesh (9853 thousand hectares), Madhya Pradesh (6551 thousand ha), Punjab (3521 thousand ha), Rajasthan (3118 thousand ha), and Haryana (2534 thousand ha)

Let’s have a look at the States by Area under Wheat Cultivation and Wheat Production

Geographical conditions to grow Wheat

Wheat has an important dietary staple across many parts of the world because of its ability to be produced in many diverse types of soils and climates.

Temperature

• It is primarily a crop of mid-latitude grassland. It requires cool climate.

• The ideal temperature is between 10°C to 15°C at the time of sowing and 21°C to 26°C at the time of ripening and harvesting.

Rainfall

• Wheat thrives well in areas receiving annual rainfall of about 75cm.

• Annual rainfall of about 100cm is the upper limit for wheat cultivation.

• Wheat can also be grown by irrigation method in areas where rainfall is less than 75cm.

Soil

• Well drained fertile loamy and clayey loamy soil is best suited for wheat cultivation.

• Plain areas are very well suited for wheat production.

In India, Wheat is cultivated during the Rabi season as it is planted during the month of October and is harvested during the months of April and May. Wheat cultivation in India has traditionally been dominated by the northern region of India. The northern states of Punjab and Haryana Plains in India have been prolific wheat producers. Major wheat-growing states in India are Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Bihar, and Gujarat.

India Wheat Area, Yield and Production

Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture