**Executive Summary**
This document presents the Indian government's response to a parliamentary question regarding kharif rice output. It includes the first advance estimates for the 2025-26 kharif rice season and outlines the measures taken to ensure fair procurement, prevent post-harvest losses, promote crop diversification, and encourage sustainable water use. The response was slated to be presented on December 16th, 2025.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Kharif Rice Output Estimate:** The first advance estimate for the 2025-26 Kharif season is 12,45,03,940 MT of rice. Paddy procurement estimates under the Central Pool for KMS 2025-26 (Kharif crop) are detailed in Annexure-I (463.49 LMT).
* **MSP Procurement and Payments:**
* Central nodal agencies (CNAs) in coordination with State Governments and State Level Agencies (SLAs) open procurement centers to ensure farmers can benefit from MSP.
* Public awareness campaigns are conducted through media.
* Payments are made directly to registered farmers' bank accounts via Aadhaar authenticated Direct Benefits Transfer (DBT).
* **Storage Capacity and Post-Harvest Loss Prevention:**
* Government stores wheat & rice through FCI for PDS and buffer stock.
* As of 01.11.2025, FCI has 482.23 LMT of covered storage capacity, and state agencies have 347.13 LMT covered capacity, with an additional 432.93 LMT storage capacity with state agencies.
* Storage capacity is continuously assessed, monitored and created/hired through multiple schemes, including Private Entrepreneurs Guarantee (PEG) Scheme, Central Sector Scheme (CSS) 2017-25, and hiring of godowns.
* **Modern Steel Silos:**
* FCI's operational steel-silo capacity has increased to 29.5 LMT, with plans to increase it to nearly 90 LMT in 2-3 years.
* Modernization aims to reduce post-harvest losses, preserve grain quality, and lower logistics costs.
* **Crop Diversification:**
* The Crop Diversification Programme (CDP) is implemented in Haryana, Punjab & Western Uttar Pradesh since 2013-14 to shift from water-intensive paddy crops to alternative crops.
* CDP is also extended to major tobacco growing states to encourage a shift to alternate crops/cropping systems w.e.f. 2015-16.
* **Climate Resilient Agriculture:**
* Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) implements the National Innovations in Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA) project.
* Climate change vulnerability assessments have been conducted for 651 agricultural districts, with 310 identified as vulnerable.
* Climate-resilient technologies are demonstrated through KVKs.
* **Sustainable Agriculture Practices:**
* Several schemes have been initiated under the National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA) to promote sustainable agriculture practices
* NICRA extends technical assistance to vulnerable districts to promote the adoption of climate-resilient practices.
* Various schemes promote water efficiency, integrated farming, soil health management, and crop insurance.
**Impact Analysis**
**Farmers**
* **Impact:** Beneficiaries of MSP, increased awareness of procurement processes, access to direct payment through DBT, opportunities to adopt climate-resilient practices, and access to crop insurance and alternative cropping systems.
* **Action Required:** Register for MSP procurement, adopt sustainable agriculture practices, and consider diversifying crops.
**State Governments and State Level Agencies (SLAs)**
* **Impact:** Coordination with CNAs for procurement, implementation of crop diversification and climate-resilient agriculture programs.
* **Action Required:** Open adequate procurement centers, coordinate with CNAs, implement and promote diversification programs.
**Food Corporation of India (FCI)**
* **Impact:** Responsible for maintaining buffer stocks and PDS operation, managing storage capacity, and implementing modern storage solutions.
* **Action Required:** Maintain adequate storage capacity, modernize storage facilities, and ensure efficient food grain management.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare: The primary ministry responsible for the policies discussed in the document, including kharif rice output, procurement, and climate-resilient agriculture.
Kharif Rice: The central subject of the policy question, relating to output, procurement, storage, and sustainable cultivation practices.
Minimum Support Price (MSP): Mentioned in relation to fair and timely procurement for farmers, the MSP is a key element in ensuring farmer welfare.
National Innovations in Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA): Project by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) focused on assessing the impact of climate change on agriculture and promoting climate-resilient practices.
Food Corporation of India (FCI): The agency responsible for storing and maintaining buffer stocks of foodgrains, mentioned in relation to storage capacity and modernization.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2630
TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 16TH DECEMBER, 2025
RECORD KHARIF RICE OUTPUT
2630. THIRU DAYANIDHI MARAN:
Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ(cid:874)ष एवं (cid:873)कसान
क(cid:227)याण रा(cid:207)य म(cid:287)ं ी be pleased to state:
(a) the first advance estimate for 2025-26 kharif-rice output and whether the
Ministry has calculated the expected procurement requirement, buffer stock levels
and expected additional burden on public warehousing and PDS pipeline;
(b) the manner in which the Ministry plans to ensure fair and timely procurement
and MSP payments to small and marginal farmers across all States, especially in
regions struggling with storage or transport bottlenecks;
(c) the measures being taken to prevent post-harvest losses, waste and spoilage
given the sharp increase in rice output, including expansion of cold storage,
warehousing and modern silos;
(d) whether there is a crop-diversification plan to address the observed decline in
pulses and oilseeds output and to reduce dependence on rice monoculture; and
(e) the manner in which the Government ensures sustainable water use and
climate-resilience practices in rice cultivation given record output, possibly requiring
increased irrigation or groundwater extraction?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
कृ(cid:874)ष एव ं (cid:873)कसान क(cid:227)याण रा(cid:207)य म(cid:287)ं ी (SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR)
(a): First advance estimates for 2025-26 Kharif is for 12,45,03,940 MT of rice. The
paddy procurement estimates (in terms of rice) fixed during KMS 2025-26 (Kharif
crop) under Central Pool are at Annexure- I.
(b): To ensure the benefit of MSP to farmers, central nodal agencies (CNAs) in
coordination with State Government and State Level Agencies (SLAs) open adequate
procurement centres for convenience of farmers. Wide publicity and awareness are
conducted through print, electronic & social media to ensure that all registered farmers
may take advantage of MSP procurement. Payment to pre-registered farmers under
PSS is made directly into their bank accounts through Aadhaar authenticated Direct
Benefits Transfer (DBT)/ Aadhar verified Bank Account mode only.(c): Government through FCI mainly stores wheat & rice after procurement for PDS
operation and to maintain buffer stock. As on 01.11.2025, total Covered Storage
Capacity available with FCI is 482.23 LMT (Owned – 147.38 LMT + Hired – 322.43
LMT+ CAP-12.42 LMT) and 347.13 LMT covered capacity available with the State
agencies for storage of Central Pool foodgrain stock across the country. Besides,
432.93 LMT storage capacity is with state agencies.
Continous assessment and monitoring of the storage capacity is done and based on
the storage gap assessment, the storage capacities are created/hired through
following schemes:
1. Private Entrepreneurs Guarantee (PEG) Scheme
2. Central Sector Scheme (CSS) 2017-25
3. Construction of Silo's under PPP mode
4. Hiring of godown from CWCs/SWCs/State Agencies
5. Hiring of godown through Private Warehousing Scheme (PWS).
6. Creation of godowns under Asset Monetization
7. CAP Hiring Scheme -2025
8. Modified PEG scheme for NE & Hilly states with longer guarantee period of 15
years.
Creation of modern steel silos:
Food Corporation of India (FCI’s) operational steel-silo capacity has increased to
29.5 LMT, with projects underway to raise it to nearly 90 LMT in coming 2-3 years,
marking a major shift from traditional godown-based storage to modern scientific
systems.
Main objective of this reform is to modernize India’s food grain storage and supply
chain through durable, efficient and technologically advanced steel silos that reduce
post-harvest losses, preserve grain quality, enable faster and safer rail-based
movement, requires one third of the land in comparison to conventional godown, and
lower logistics costs.Silos ensure better grain quality, reduced wastage and improving. For the sector,
silos provide higher operational efficiency, faster bulk handling, reduced spoilage,
lower labour needs and optimized supply-chain operations, strengthening the long-
term storage capacity and enhancing sustainability and cost-effectiveness.
The total number of Operational cold storages of Central Warehousing Corporation
(CWC) state-wise are as under:-
S.No. State Location Capacity in MT
1. Maharashtra CW Vashi 395
2. Maharashtra CW Nasik 2300
3. Gujarat CW Vadodara 1250
(d): Government of India is implementing the Crop Diversification Programme (CDP)
under Pradhan Mantri - Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (PM-RKVY) scheme in the
Original Green Revolution States Haryana, Punjab & Western Uttar Pradesh since
2013-14 to divert the area of water intensive paddy crop to alternative crops, which
require less water under CDP, assistance is given for alternative crop demonstrations,
farm mechanization and value addition, site specific activities and contingency for
awareness and capacity building. Further, Crop Diversification Programme has been
extended to major tobacco growing states to encourage tobacco growing farmers to
shift to alternate crops/cropping system w.e.f. 2015-16.
(e): Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) is implementing National
Innovations in Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA) project that studies the impact of
climate change on agriculture. Under the project, risk and vulnerability assessment to
climate change has been carried out for 651 agricultural districts as per Inter-
governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) protocols. 310 districts were identified
as vulnerable out of which 109 districts have been categorized as ‘very high’ and 201
districts as ‘highly’ vulnerable. For enhancing the resilience and adaptive capacity of
farmers to climate variability, location-specific climate resilient technologies such as
system of rice intensification, aerobic rice, direct seeding of rice, zero till wheat sowing
etc. have been demonstrated under the project through KVKs in 151 districts covering
448 Climate Resilient Villages. Drought and flood tolerant climate-resilient varieties of
rice, were demonstrated in several NICRA villages. Besides, training programmes are
conducted under Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA) on various
issues of agricultural practices.Under NICRA, technical assistance for small and marginal farmers is extended to
additional vulnerable districts beyond the 151 currently covered districts, to promote
adoption of climate-resilient practices. Village level institutions through farmers’
participatory approach, such as Village Climate Risk Management Committees, seed
and fodder banks have been established for smooth functioning and need based
technology penetration. The project is contributing to farmers’ capacity building and
improved crop yields, thereby leading to the socio-economic development.
Several schemes have been initiated under National Mission for Sustainable
Agriculture (NMSA), to promote sustainable agriculture practices. Per Drop More Crop
(PDMC) scheme increases water use efficiency at the farm level through micro
irrigation technologies i.e. drip and sprinkler. Rainfed Area Development focuses on
Integrated Farming System for enhancing productivity and minimizing risks associated
with climatic variability. The Soil Health & Fertility scheme promotes integrated nutrient
management through judicious use of chemical fertilizers. Mission for Integrated
Development of Horticulture, Agroforestry & National Bamboo Mission also promote
climate resilience in agriculture. Further, Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana along with
weather index based Restructured Weather Based Crop Insurance Scheme provide a
comprehensive insurance cover against crop failure by providing financial support to
farmers suffering crop loss/damage arising out of unforeseen natural calamities. ICAR
has released 2900 varieties during last 10 years (2014-2024) of which 2661 varieties
are tolerant to one or more biotic and/or abiotic stresses.Annexure-I
Sl. Paddy Procurement Estimates
State/UT
No. (in terms of rice) (In LMT)
1. Punjab (including Chandigarh) 116.00
2. Chhattisgarh 73.00
3. Odisha 40.00
4. Uttar Pradesh 39.00
5. Haryana 36.00
6. Telangana 36.00
7. Madhya Pradesh 29.00
8. Bihar 25.00
9. West Bengal 18.00
10. Tamil Nadu 16.00
11. Andhra Pradesh 16.00
12. Maharashtra 7.00
13. Uttarakhand 5.00
14. Assam 4.00
15. Kerala 2.00
16. Jharkhand 0.71
17. Gujarat 0.24
18. J&K 0.20
19. Himachal Pradesh 0.16
20. Tripura 0.12
21. Karnataka 0.05
22. Puducherry 0.01
TOTAL 463.49
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