Wheat is one of the most important cereal crops in India, providing food security and steady income for millions of farmers. After rice, wheat occupies the second-largest cropped area in the country. According to the Ministry of Agriculture (2024 data), wheat is grown on around 30 million hectares, producing 112–115 million tonnes annually, which makes India the second-largest producer of wheat in the world after China.
For farmers, gehu ki kheti is not just a tradition, it is also a reliable source of livelihood. With modern methods, improved seed varieties, and updated practices, wheat farming has become more profitable. This article explains gehu ki kheti kaise kare with methods, costs, profits, and updated facts.
What is Wheat Farming (Gehu ki Kheti)?
Wheat farming, or gehu ki kheti, is one of the most important agricultural activities in India. It involves preparing the soil, selecting high-yield and disease-resistant seeds, timely sowing (mainly in November–December), and using proper irrigation, fertilizers, and pest management. Wheat requires cool weather for growth and warm, dry conditions for harvesting. As a staple food crop, wheat farming provides millions of farmers with income while meeting a major share of India’s food security needs.
Role of Wheat (Gehu) in Indian Agriculture
1. Wheat is India’s second most important food crop after rice, providing staple food for millions and ensuring national food security.
2. It covers about 13% of India’s cropped area, supporting rural livelihoods and income for millions of farmers.
3. Wheat farming thrives in alluvial and black soils, making it vital for states like Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh.
4. It contributes nearly 35% of India’s total food grain production, strengthening the agriculture sector.
5. Wheat acts as a rabi crop backbone, grown mainly in winter, balancing crop cycles with rice in the kharif season.
Best Varieties of Wheat in India
For higher productivity, farmers should choose certified and region-specific varieties:
- HD-2967: A high-yielding wheat variety suited for North India, helping farmers boost production and income from gehu ki kheti.
- PBW-343: Resistant to rust disease, PBW-343 ensures stable wheat yields and reduces crop losses for farmers.
- WH-1105: Known for drought tolerance, WH-1105 supports wheat farming in low-rainfall areas, ensuring reliable harvests.
- DBW-187 (Karan Vandana): Widely grown in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, this variety offers high yield and adaptability.
- HI-1544 (Pusa Tejas): Suitable for central and peninsular India, Pusa Tejas delivers strong performance and better productivity.
Using improved seeds can increase yield by 20–25%, making gehu ki kheti more profitable.
Climate and Soil Requirements for Wheat Farming (Gehu ki Kheti)
- Crop Season: Wheat is a rabi crop, sown in winter (Oct–Dec) and harvested in summer (Mar–Apr), requiring cool growth weather and warm, dry conditions for ripening.
- Temperature: Ideal temperature is 10–15°C. at sowing for proper germination, while 21–26°C during maturity ensures good grain development and high-quality yield.
- Rainfall: Wheat needs 50–100 cm rainfall; with irrigation, it can also be grown successfully in drier areas, making it adaptable to different regions.
- Soil: Fertile alluvial soil of the Indo-Gangetic plains and black cotton soil in central India are most suitable for wheat cultivation and high productivity.
- Soil pH: Wheat thrives best in soil with a pH between 6.0 and 7.5, ensuring balanced nutrient availability and healthier crop growth for higher yields.
Modern Methods of Wheat Farming (Gehu ki Kheti)
1. Soil Testing & Precision Farming: Soil testing helps farmers apply the right dose of fertilizers. Precision tools like GPS and sensors guide nutrient use, improving soil fertility, saving costs, and boosting wheat yields.
2. High-Yielding Varieties (HYVs): Adopting certified, region-specific varieties such as HD-2967, DBW-187, and Pusa Tejas increases yield by 20–25%. Disease resistance reduces crop losses, making wheat farming more profitable.
3. Zero-Tillage & DSR System: Zero-tillage sowing after rice harvest saves ploughing costs, labor, and 20–25% fuel. Direct seeding improves soil health, reduces greenhouse gas emissions, and allows timely wheat planting.
4. Efficient Irrigation Management: Using drip and sprinkler irrigation saves 30–40% water. Laser land leveling ensures uniform irrigation, while critical irrigations at root initiation and grain filling boost productivity.
5. Integrated Pest Management (IPM): Combining resistant varieties, pheromone traps, biopesticides, and limited chemical sprays protects wheat from rust, termites, and aphids, reducing pesticide costs and environmental impact.
6. Mechanization & Farm Equipment: Seed drills, combine harvesters, rotavators, and drones for spraying make wheat farming faster, reduce labor costs, and improve efficiency in gehu ki kheti, ensuring better profits.
7. Climate-Smart Practices: Climate-resilient seeds, crop diversification, solar pumps, and IoT-based moisture sensors help farmers adapt to weather changes, ensuring sustainable and profitable wheat cultivation.
Wheat Farming Cost, Yield & Profit (2025)
1. Cost of Cultivation: Per acre wheat farming costs about ₹15,200. Major expenses include land prep ₹2,200, seeds ₹1,900, fertilizers ₹3,800, irrigation ₹2,800, pesticides ₹1,300, and labor ₹3,200.
2. Yield with Traditional Practices: India’s average wheat yield is 3.5 tonnes/ha or around 14 quintals per acre. Limited irrigation, traditional seeds, and imbalanced fertilizer use restrict productivity and farm income.
3. Yield with Modern Methods: Using high-yielding varieties, zero-tillage, precision irrigation, and IPM, yields rise to 5–5.5 tonnes/ha or 20–22 quintals per acre, ensuring much higher profitability.
4. MSP for Wheat 2025: The Minimum Support Price (MSP) for wheat in 2025 is fixed at ₹2,300 per quintal. This government-assured price protects farmers from market fluctuations and ensures stable returns.
5. Profit Calculation: With 20 quintals per acre × ₹2,300 MSP = ₹46,000. After subtracting the cultivation cost of about ₹15,200, farmers earn nearly ₹30,800 per acre as net profit in 2025.
Wheat Production: Area, Production, Yield & MSP (2015–2025)
| Year | Area (Million Hectare) | Production (Million Tonnes) | Yield (Kg/ Hectare) | MSP (Rs. /(QTL)) |
| 2015–16 | 30.4 | 92.3 | 3034 | 1,450 |
| 2017–18 | 29.6 | 98.5 | 3323 | 1,735 |
| 2019–20 | 29.0 | 107.9 | 3716 | 1,925 |
| 2021–22 | 29.5 | 109.6 | 3710 | 2,015 |
| 2023–24 | 30.1 | 112.9 | 3750 | 2,175 |
| 2024–25* | 30.3 | 115.2 (est.) | 3800 | 2,300 |
(Projected data for 2024–25 based on government estimates)
This table highlights how area under wheat has remained stable, but productivity and MSP have steadily increased, ensuring higher farmer income.
Final Thought
Wheat remains the backbone of Indian agriculture, and modern methods are the key to higher profits. With improved seed varieties, zero-till sowing, and efficient irrigation, farmers can now achieve more yield with fewer inputs. The cost–benefit ratio proves that gehu ki kheti is one of the most rewarding options in farming. Rising yield levels and steady MSP growth strengthen its profitability. Farmers who adopt scientific methods and understand gehu ki kheti kaise kare effectively can ensure both food security and financial stability in 2025 and beyond.