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Category — GS Paper 3 ///Published — 2026-05-29 ///Exam — Both Prelims and Mains ///Tags — Agricultural Resources, Food Security, Cooperative Federalism ///Category — GS Paper 3 ///Published — 2026-05-29 ///Exam — Both Prelims and Mains ///Tags — Agricultural Resources, Food Security, Cooperative Federalism ///

News · GS Paper 3

India Sets Record Foodgrain Production at 376.563 Million Tonnes

India has achieved a landmark milestone with total foodgrain production reaching an all-time high of 376.563 million tonnes in 2025-26, an increase of 18.8 million tonnes over the previous year. The country has emerged as the world's largest rice producer at 154.024 million tonnes, surpassing China. This National Conference on Agriculture for Kharif Campaign-2026 highlighted India's agricultural growth, climate-resilient practices, and digital interventions to strengthen the farm sector.

2026-05-29

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Record Foodgrain Production

India's agricultural sector has reached a historic milestone with estimated total foodgrain production for 2025-26 at 376.563 million tonnes, marking an increase of 18.8 million tonnes over 2024-25.

Key Production Records

Rice: India produced a record 154.024 million tonnes, becoming the world's number one rice producer by surpassing China
Wheat: Production reached 120.657 million tonnes, making India the second-largest wheat producer globally
Maize: Output stood at 55.092 million tonnes, securing India's position as the seventh-largest maize producer worldwide

Oilseeds and Pulses Achievement

Total oilseed production projected at a historic 43.059 million tonnes
Rapeseed-mustard: Record output of 13.768 million tonnes
Groundnut: Production hit 13.074 million tonnes

Cooperative Federalism in Agriculture

Since agriculture is a state subject under the Constitution, the Centre positioned itself as a facilitator to build a unified 'Team Agriculture' involving:

State governments
ICAR (Indian Council of Agricultural Research) scientists
Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs)

This approach emphasizes cooperative federalism in agricultural planning and implementation.

Climate Change Adaptations

The conference prioritized climate-resilient agricultural practices:

Natural farming methods
Soil Health Cards distribution and usage
Balanced fertilizer application to combat soil degradation from chemical overuse
Strategies to counter rising temperatures and erratic rainfall patterns

Digital and Structural Interventions

Key initiatives discussed include:

Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF): For building post-harvest infrastructure
PM-AASHA scheme (Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay SanraksHan Abhiyan): For price support to farmers
Digital agriculture frameworks: For technology-enabled farming solutions
Distinct Farmer IDs: To drive systemic transparency and risk protection

Constitutional Context

Agriculture being a state subject (List II, Seventh Schedule) means state governments have primary responsibility for agricultural development, while the Union government plays a coordinating and supporting role through various schemes and policies.