While wheat harvest has been largely completed in these regions, according to people familiar with this matter, it could disrupt further escalation of tension in the coming months.
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The India-Pakistani border, which stretches 3,323 km across Gujarat, Rajasthan, Panjab, Jammu and Kashmir, includes a section of 553 km shared only by a pandjab. This region is of strategic importance not only for national security, but also for the country’s agricultural production.
Panjab, with only 1.53% of the Indian geographical area, contributes to a stunning 46.24% wheat and 31.22% of rice to the central pool, underlining its critical role in the national food supply.
The current tension is monitored by Indian retaliatory air strikes at four Pakistani places – Murides, Bahawalpur, Kotli and Muzaffarabad – in response to a terrorist attack on April 22 in Pahalgam, Jamm and Kashmir, which claimed 26 lives, including two security officers.
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While the Indian wheat of the 2025-26 Rabi season is running-with the paňjab, the 11.72 million tonnes from the national total of 26.04 million tonnes are now moving to the upcoming Kharif season.
Border districts such as Gurdaspur, Amritsar, Tarn Taran and Ferozepur in Pandjab, Ganganagar, Hanumangarh and Jaisalmer in Rajasthan and Kupwaara, Baramula, Baramulla and Uri in Jammu & Kashmir Haway near Zero.
In normal times, the border security forces (BSF) manage the farmers’ movement between the border fence and the international border. But at a time of increased warning, access can be limited and disrupts routine agricultural operations.
“Wheat is safe so far, but if the conflict persists, the sowing of the kharif could be delayed or even skipped into vulnerable pockets,” said the head of the agriculture department, adding that the preparations were carried out to support the affected farmers if the situation deteriorated.
Farmers in these countries usually start sowing kharif in June, starting with unpeeled kindergartens and any prolonged military tension could affect logistics and availability of work.
“It is not just a paňjab – it is a national food safety,” said the leader of the Agricultural Union based in Amritsar. “The government must have an emergency plan if the distance stretches for several days.”
In Jammu and Kashmir, the cultivation of fruit may face a significant disruption if the tension with Pakistan escalates into an extended conflict. Although fruits such as apples, apricots, cherries and walnuts are grown on a relatively small scale in nearby control areas, especially in parts of buywwar, baramully and border belts Uri and Karnah, meaningfully contribute to the local economy and revenue of farmers.
Even limited disorders during flowering or harvesting phases can affect yield and quality, due to the dependence of the region on timely work and logistics.
While the authorities carefully monitor the situation, agriculture officials coordinate with the district administrations to assess the soil disruption and mechanisms of support mechanisms if they stop agricultural operations near the border.
“In the last week of April, BSF staff asked us to complete the wheat harvest in the zone between the border fence and the zero line that is controlled by the BSF. Although the harvest has ended, if the situation continues to escalate, it will affect Kharif Sewing, especially unpeeled,” said Rattan Singh, farmer, Penjab, Amritsar Corders.
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In Rajasthan, wheat is grown primarily in the districts of Ganganagar, Hanumangarh and Jaisalmer near the Pakistani border. Ganganagar leads with more than 1 million hectares, followed by Hanumangarh with 500,000 hectares and Jaisalmer with 50,000 to 75,000 hectares.
In Gujarat, the crop of wheat in Kutch and Saurashtra can also be endangered, albeit smaller compared to Pandjab and Rajasthane if tension affects agricultural activities in these areas of adjacent boundaries.
(Tagstotranslate) India Pakistani borderline tension
