Trends in Area, Production and Productivity of Wheat— A Time-Series Analysis

DOI: 10.22161/ijeab.111.6

Abstract:
An attempt has been made in this paper to examine the status in terms of area, production and productivity of wheat in India, Himachal and Kangra district by using time-series data of the recent past two decades (2001-02 to 2022-23). Over recent years, India has shown a positive trend in wheat production and productivity, largely due to high-yielding varieties and supportive government policies. In contrast, Himachal Pradesh and Kangra district exhibit more varied trends, with some areas showing a decline in cultivation area due to a shift towards commercial crops like fruits and vegetables, while productivity in certain regions has increased due to improved farming practices. The total area under wheat cultivation in India has shown an overall decreasing trend, growing from approximately 44,904 thousand hectares in2001-02 to 41,401 thousand hectares in 2022-23. Production has increased significantly, reaching a record 113,500 thousand tonnes in 2022-23 in India. The national average productivity has marginally improved, reaching approximately 2.74 MT/ha. Major wheat-growing states like Punjab and Haryana generally have higher productivity than the national average. In Himachal Pradesh, the area under wheat cultivation has experienced a fluctuating trend. While wheat remains the principal food grain crop covering a significant portion of the total cultivated area, there is a general trend of shifting cultivated land towards non-food grain or commercial crops in some areas. Production has also fluctuated in Himachal, reaching a high of 687.45 thousand tonnes in 2004-05 but decreasing in subsequent years before rising to 609.31 thousand tonnes in 2022-23. The state’s average yield was reported at 1.91 MT/ha in 2023-23. Kangra has historically been a leading wheat-growing district in the state. However, similar to the broader state trend, some studies indicated a decline in the proportionate area under wheat, with farmers shifting to more remunerative options like vegetables and fruits. The district Kangra consistently ranks in the high-productivity zone within Himachal Pradesh, benefiting from favorable climatic conditions and effective water management. Declining farm sizes due to fragmentation, urbanization, and a shift in some areas to high-value commercial crops pose a challenge to sustained wheat area and production.

Keywords:
Area, Production, Productivity, wheat, India, Himachal, Kangra distrct.

Article Info:
Received: 08 Dec 2025; Received in revised form: 11 Jan 2026; Accepted: 15 Jan 2025; Available online: 25 Jan 2026

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