India increased its rice procurement volume by 5% in the 2025–26 season.

According to official data, as of August 4, the volume of rice procurement reached 571.14 million tonnes, compared to 542.85 million tonnes in the same period a year earlier. The target for the 2025–26 season is set at 575.52 million tonnes. In the procurement structure, 485.95 million tonnes come from the kharif season harvest, and 89.57 million tonnes — from the rabi season.

The most significant growth was demonstrated by the rabi season harvest: procurement volumes increased by 18% — from 73.45 million tonnes to 86.71 million tonnes. The leader in supplies in this segment was the state of Telangana (42.69 million tonnes), followed by Tamil Nadu (13.20 million tonnes), Andhra Pradesh (11.83 million tonnes), and Odisha (11.04 million tonnes). Procurement of the kharif harvest in all states has already been completed, while the intake of rabi season rice will continue until September 30.

In Punjab, traditionally leading in contributions to the central pool, figures declined by 9.7% — to 104.86 million tonnes. In Haryana, on the contrary, procurements were revised upward to 41.58 million tonnes following a corresponding request by state authorities to the federal center. Given the early maturation of rice this year, agencies in Punjab and Haryana were permitted to begin procurement from mid-September, and in Tamil Nadu — from September 1.

The Ministry of Agriculture estimates rice production in the 2025–26 season as follows: the kharif harvest is expected at 124.76 million tonnes (compared to 122.77 million tonnes a year earlier), the rabi harvest — 18.11 million tonnes (compared to 16.13 million tonnes), and the summer harvest (zaid) is projected at 11.16 million tonnes. Rice acreage has decreased by 2%, which, in the absence of a significant rainfall deficit in August-September, allows for expectations of a high harvest.

Since the new marketing season begins on October 1, the government must distribute the existing stocks before the start of the 2026–27 season procurement.