Wheat Production in India, Impact of Rising Temperatures on Wheat

India is one of the largest wheat producers globally, with key growing regions in Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh, contributing to food security and agricultural exports. Check here all about Wheat Production in India.

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Context: The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned that March 2025 will experience above-normal temperatures and a higher number of heatwave days. This coincides with India’s wheat harvest season, posing a serious threat to wheat production.

Wheat Production in India

India is the second-largest producer of wheat in the world after China, playing a crucial role in global food security. Wheat is a staple crop in India, primarily grown in the Rabi season (sown in October-December and harvested in March-April). The major wheat-producing states include Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Bihar, with the Indo-Gangetic plains being the most fertile region.

Impact of Heat on Wheat Crops

Global warming reduces wheat grain yield and quality by affecting

Photosynthesis and respiration.
Nutrient absorption and water regulation.
Stress-induced hormones and proteins.
Grain number, size, and biomass production.

Temperature

The optimum temperature for wheat during later growth stages should not exceed 30°C, but rising temperatures are shortening the grain-filling period.

Scientific Explanation of Heat Stress on Wheat

Early flowering & faster ripening → Reduced starch accumulation → Lighter grains & lower wheat output.
Higher protein but lower starch content → Poorer milling quality & lower market prices.
Desperate farmers overuse fertilizers and pesticides → Inefficient resource use and long-term soil damage.

Wheat Cultivation in India

Wheat is India’s second-largest crop (after paddy) in terms of area coverage.
In 2023-24, wheat was cultivated on 318.33 lakh hectares.
It is a rabi crop that requires a cool growing season and bright sunshine at the time of ripening.
Soil: Well-drained loamy soils rich in organic matter are ideal for wheat cultivation.
Temperature: Ideal temperature range between 10°C and 24°C.
- A frost-free period of about 100 days is required for its cultivation.
Top Producers India: (1) Uttar Pradesh (2) Madhya Pradesh (3) Punjab (4) Haryana (5) Rajasthan.
Top Producers Worldwide: (1) China (2) India (3) Russia (4) USA.

The Role of the Indian Ocean in Rising Temperatures

The Indian Ocean is warming at an alarming rate.
A study by the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, Pune has predicted that;
- By the end of the century, the Indian Ocean will be in a near-permanent heatwave state.
- Marine heatwave days to increase from 20 to 220-250 per year.
Impact on India’s Monsoon:
- Delayed kharif crop season → Delayed rabi sowing → Rabi wheat harvest coincides with early heatwaves.