Wheat Export 2026 Update: Good News for Farmers Ahead of PM Kisan 22nd Installment

Due to enough stock in the local market and falling prices, the central government has given the green light for the export of 25 lakh tonnes of wheat (India wheat export approval). Additionally, they’ve also approved the export of 5 lakh tonnes each of wheat products and sugar (India sugar export). The government states that this move aims to ensure better prices for farmers, maintain market availability, and manage buffer stock effectively.

Wheat export approved for the first time after Corona

For the first time since the pandemic, the government has permitted wheat exports. They’ve made it clear that this decision won’t negatively affect the country’s food security needs. The Food Ministry reports that private traders have around 7.5 million tonnes of wheat stock for 2025-26, which is about 3.2 million tonnes more than the same time last year.

Wheat area increased to 334.17 lakh hectares

Moreover, it’s expected that around 18.2 million tons of wheat will be available in the Food Corporation of India’s (FCI) central pool by April 1, 2026. The government has also confirmed that the area dedicated to wheat cultivation for the 2026 Rabi season has risen to 33.417 million hectares, up from 32.804 million hectares last year. This increase is viewed as a positive sign of growing farmer confidence, thanks to the Minimum Support Price (MSP) and a solid procurement system.

Steps taken for the betterment of farmers

With the potential for better production, the government wants to ensure that farmers aren’t forced to sell their crops at rock-bottom prices during peak harvest times. The Ministry believes that with sufficient buffer stocks, anticipated higher production, and declining local prices, this export decision will help stabilize domestic prices, improve the supply-demand balance in the market, and speed up stock rotation. This is expected to boost farmers’ incomes.

15 lakh tonnes of sugar export has already been permitted

On the sugar front, the government has also permitted an additional 500,000 tonnes of exports in the current 2025-26 sugar season. Previously, an order dated November 14, 2025, had permitted the export of 150,000 tonnes of sugar. However, as of January 31, 2026, only 197,000 tonnes of sugar has been actually exported, while export contracts for 272,000 tonnes have been signed. Consequently, additional quotas have been issued to manage the surplus sugar.

PM Kisan Yojana 22nd Installment

 Farmers work day and night to grow crops in their fields. This requires high-quality seeds and financial assistance. The government also runs various schemes to help farmers, such as the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana.

When can the 22nd installment be released?

• Under the PM Kisan Yojana, each installment is released at an interval of approximately four months.
• For example, the 21st installment was released in November.
• Accordingly, the four months of the 22nd installment are in February.