Centre sets lower foodgrain production target for 2026-27 amid El Niño
text_fields
The central government has set a foodgrain production target of 373.93 million tonnes for 2026-27, 2.63 million tonnes lower than the estimated output for 2025-26, citing conditions created by El Niño.
Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said foodgrain production reached 376.56 million tonnes in 2025-26, against a target of 362.60 million tonnes. The target for 2026-27 includes 177.72 million tonnes from the Rabi season.
Speaking at a press conference during the National Agriculture Conference-Rabi Campaign 2026, Chouhan said the targets had been set after considering water availability, soil moisture and state-level consultations on cropping patterns.
He said states had been advised to avoid water-intensive crops in areas with low rainfall, reservoir levels and soil moisture, and instead promote pulses and oilseeds.
Chouhan said there was no shortage of fertilisers for the coming Rabi season. States have estimated their requirement of fertilisers, including DAP and urea, at 380 lakh metric tonnes for 2026-27. The opening stock stands at 163 lakh metric tonnes, compared with 122 lakh metric tonnes a year earlier.
The minister also said fertiliser consumption had declined in 200 districts covered by a Centre-state pilot project promoting balanced use of chemical fertilisers. The initiative had resulted in savings of more than Rs 1,400 crore, he said.
Chouhan said the Centre had begun measures to address the impact of El Niño in April. The country recorded a 14% rainfall deficit, which narrowed to 12% after good rainfall over the previous three or four days.
The area sown declined by 1% but remained close to normal. Paddy recorded the largest decline, while maize, soybean and cotton also saw slight decreases. Areas under pulses, oilseeds and coarse cereals, including urad, bajra, jowar, sesame, sunflower and tur, increased.