With a bumper wheat output expected, the total foodgrains production in the country is estimated to reach an all-time high of 291.95 million tonnes during 2019-20. The estimated foodgrains production during 2019-20 will be 0.29 per cent higher than the current year’s target of 291.10 million tonnes and 2.36 per cent higher than the production of 285.21 million tonnes in 2018-19. However, the record wheat output during current Rabi season which is estimated to reach a level of 106.21 million tonnes — 5.68 per cent higher than the target of 100.50 million tonnes, 2.52 percent higher than the wheat production in 2018-19 and 12.26 per cent higher than the average wheat production of 94.61 million tonnes — may pose political and fiscal challenges to the Central Government in the coming months. Already saddled with high stocks of foodgrains, the bumper harvest is a fiscal and political challenge for the Centre. More grains to procure means higher food subsidy and any reluctance on this front will invite farmer ire.