Bumper Wheat Crop Expected, but Imports Still Cheaper Available records indicate the area under wheat in 2017/18 totals 28.3 million hectares, down about 4.77 percent from last year and less than the 30.2 million hectares planted under normal circumstances. While the area is smaller in Uttar Pradesh, there is still time for sowing. That window has closed in Madhya Pradesh, however, and the planted area there has reached 4.453 million hectares versus 5.381 million hectares a year ago and the usual 6.4 million hectares. Nevertheless, it could expand to 5-5.2 million hecatares if irrigation allows farmers to add some late sowing. The government of India (GOI) still has a production target of 97.5 MMT for 2017/18 against 98.38 MMT in 2016/17...