NEW DELHI, Sept 25 – India is likely to achieve the second highest foodgrain production at 129.32 million tonnes this kharif season (summer crops) on better monsoon, but rice output is seen declining marginally, Press Trust of India (PTI) reported.
Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar said a record foodgrain production is expected in full 2013-14 crop year on account of good rain and “there will be a rebound in agriculture growth” from 1.9 per cent in the last financial year.
An improvement in the agriculture sector is vital for the government to contain food inflation and boost economic growth rate, which was a mere 4.4 per cent in the first quarter 2013-14, ahead of 2014 general elections in May next year.
Releasing the first forecast of foodgrain production in the summer season, Pawar said: “We are poised to produce 129.32 million tonnes this kharif. This will be the second highest production.”
Foodgrain output had touched all-time record of 131.27 million tonnes in the kharif season of 2011-12. It, however, fell to 128.20 million tonnes last year due to drought.
Higher levels of production in pulses and coarse cereals are projected to lift the overall kharif foodgrain output, while cotton and oilseeds production are set to be at all-time record levels.
Noting that the current year has been good for the farm sector, Pawar said: “With favourable weather condition, I am confident that kharif production will be substantially higher than what has been estimated at present.
“And there will be highest foodgrain production in the entire 2013-14 crop year (June-July). Definitely, there will be a rebound in agriculture growth.”
Pawar also advocated use of new farm technologies, including GM crops, to sustain growth in the farm sector and meet extra foodgrain requirement under the food law.
According to the first estimates, rice production is expected to drop marginally to 92.32 million tonnes this summer due to deficient rain in rice-growing eastern states.
Last summer, rice output was 92.76 million tonnes.
Pawar also expressed the confidence that shortfall in rice output would be made up. He also said the government’s initial foodgrain production estimates are conservative. There is always 5-10 per cent difference in output figures of first and final forecasts.
Agriculture Commissioner J S Sandhu said the estimate for rice output is kept lower as deficient rains in Bihar, Jharkhand and North East have affected the summer crop.
– BERNAMA
