On March 10, 2025, the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare (MoA&FW) released the ‘Second Advance Estimates for the production of major agricultural crops (Kharif and Rabi) for 2024-25’, highlighting record outputs in key crops like rice, wheat, maize, groundnut, and soybean.
- Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, MoA&FW, approved the data, confirming that under the leadership of Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi, the Government of India(GoI) aims to develop the agricultural sector.
Methodology for Estimates:
i.The estimates were prepared using: Crop area data validated with inputs from Remote Sensing, Weekly Crop Weather Watch Group (WCWWG), and state reports.
ii.Stakeholder consultations with industry and government representatives and Crop Cutting Experiments (CCEs) for yield assessment, supported by historical trends.
Key Highlights of the Estimates:
i.Foodgrains Production for Kharif is estimated at 1,663.91 Lakh Metric Tons (LMT), while Rabi production (excluding summer crops) is projected at 1,645.27 LMT.
ii.Rice: Kharif rice production is anticipated to reach a record 1,206.79 LMT, an increase of 74.20 LMT compared to the 1,132.59 LMT produced in 2023-24 and Rabi rice (excluding summer) is estimated at 157.58 LMT.
iii.Wheat production is projected at a record 1,154.30 LMT, showing an increase of 21.38 LMT compared to 2023-24 (1,132.92 LMT).
iv.Maize: Kharif maize production is projected at a record 248.11 LMT, with Rabi maize (excluding summer) estimated at 124.38 LMT.
v.Shree Anna (Millets): Kharif production is estimated at 137.52 LMT, and Rabi production at 30.81 LMT.
vi.Pulses: Tur production is estimated at 35.11 LMT, gram (chana) at 115.35 LMT, and lentil at 18.17 LMT.
vii.Oilseeds: Kharif oilseeds production is projected at 276.38 LMT, with Rabi oilseeds (excluding summer) at 140.31 LMT.
- Kharif groundnut is projected to reach 104.26 LMT, an increase of 17.66 LMT from the previous year’s 2023-24 (86.60 LMT).
- Soybean production is also anticipated to hit a record 151.32 LMT, up by 20.70 LMT from the prior year’s 2023-24 (130.62 LMT).
- Rapeseed and mustard production is estimated at 128.73 LMT.
viii.Sugarcane production is estimated at 4,350.79 LMT. Cotton production is projected at 294.25 lakh bales, each weighing 170 kilogram (kg) while Jute production is estimated at 83.08 lakh bales, each weighing 180 kg.
About the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (MoA&FW):
Union Minister– Shivraj Singh Chouhan (Constituency- Vidisha, Madhya Pradesh, MP)
Minister of State (MoS) – Ram Nath Thakur (Rajya Sabha Bihar); Bhagirath Choudhary (Constituency- Ajmer, Rajasthan)
