Indian farmers are expecting wheat acreage to increase by about 5% this year. Initial figures show that by November 14, wheat had been planted on approximately 6.62 million hectares, which is nearly 17% higher than the same period last year.
This growth is driven by two main factors. The first is higher-than-normal rainfall in October, which significantly improved soil moisture levels in northwestern India — about 161% above average.
The second factor is the increase in the government’s support price: India raised its minimum support price (MSP) for wheat by around 6.6%, giving farmers a strong economic incentive to plant more.
With the expanded acreage and favorable weather and economic conditions, India — the world’s second-largest wheat producer — is expected to potentially achieve record-high production, strengthen its domestic stocks, and possibly reduce wheat imports or even move toward limited exports.
Additionally, colder winter weather, influenced by the expected La Niña climate pattern, may further improve wheat yields, especially in northern and central parts of India.
