NEW DELHI, 14 April 2025: India has harvested 38 per cent of the total estimated wheat area in the ongoing 2025–26 rabi marketing season, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said on Sunday, as he reviewed the progress of crop harvesting and procurement across the country.
Addressing officials, Chouhan noted that harvesting operations were progressing well in major wheat-producing states such as Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Bihar. The total area under wheat cultivation this season is estimated at 32 million hectares.
With the government targeting 31 million tonnes of wheat procurement for the current marketing season (April–March), the minister directed officials to ensure efficient procurement systems to support farmers and safeguard their interests in view of a favourable yield outlook.
According to data released by the Agriculture Ministry, 59 per cent of the total rabi crop area has been harvested across India as of April 4. Among other key crops, 91 per cent of the rabi pulses area, 87 per cent of oilseeds, 70 per cent of Shree Anna (nutri-cereals) and coarse cereals, and 33 per cent of rice have been harvested.
Minister Chouhan also took stock of the sowing progress for zaid crops—short-duration crops cultivated between the rabi and kharif seasons. The total sown area under zaid crops has reached 60.22 lakh hectares so far this year, a notable increase from 52.40 lakh hectares in the same period last year.
Out of this, rice accounts for 32 lakh hectares, pulses 11 lakh hectares, and oilseeds 7.35 lakh hectares, the ministry statement said.
