Why in News?
As of April 2026, wheat is prominently in the news due to the peak harvesting and procurement season in India, alongside global market shifts driven by geopolitical tensions in West Asia and weather-related supply concerns in North America.
Climatic & Soil Requirements
- Season: Primarily a Rabi (winter) crop in India, sown in Oct-Nov and harvested in March-April.
- Temperature: Needs a cool growing season (10°C to 15°C) and bright sunshine during ripening (21°C to 26°C).
- Rainfall: Requires moderate, well-distributed rainfall of 50–100 cm.
- Soil: Thrives best in well-drained fertile loamy or clayey loamy soils (common in the Ganga-Satluj plains).
Production & Geography
- Global Rank: India is the world's second-largest producer of wheat, after China.
- Top Producers (Global): China, India, Russia, USA, and Canada.
- Top Producers (India): Uttar Pradesh (highest), followed by Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, and Haryana.
- Varieties: Nearly 95% of India's wheat is bread wheat, while Durum wheat (used for pasta/macaroni) accounts for about 4–5%.
Key Challenges & Trends
- Climate Change: Rising temperatures, especially early heatwaves in February/March, can shorten the "grain-filling" period, reducing yield and grain weight.
- Technological Shift: 67% of India's wheat acreage is now under climate-resilient varieties to withstand erratic weather.
- Economic Support: The government supports farmers through the Minimum Support Price (MSP), which was fixed at ₹2,425 per quintal for the 2025–26 rabi season.
Nutritional Profile (per 100g)
- Energy: ~327 kcal
- Protein: ~12.6g (High compared to other cereals)
- Fiber: ~12.2g
- Vitamins: Rich in B-complex (Thiamine, Niacin, B6) and Vitamin E.
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