Generic selectors
Exact matches only
Search in title
Search in content
Post Type Selectors
Generic selectors
Exact matches only
Search in title
Search in content
Post Type Selectors
Foodgrain production to be record 279.51 million tonne: Government

Foodgrain production to be record 279.51 million tonne: Government

wheat productionNew Delhi : Total foodgrain production in the country this year is going to be record 279.51 million tonne, which is 4.4 million tonne higher than the last year, Union Agriculture Ministry said in its third advance estimates issued on Wednesday.

Last year, the foodgrain production was 275.11 million tonne.

While expected production of cotton and sugarcane has shown an increase, oilseeds and jute and mesta output are expected to be lower this year.

With all major foodgrains showing record production, the third advance estimates showed an increase even from the second advance estimates — issued in February, which had projected 277.49 million tonne for the 2017-18 agriculture year, which starts from July.

As per the latest estimates, the total output of rice is expected to be 111.52 million tonne, which is 1.82 million tonne more than the last year’s output — 109.70 million tonne.

Also, wheat production is estimated to reach 98.61 million tonne, which is higher by 100,000 tonne than the previous year’s production of 98.51 million tonne.

Maize output is likely to be 26.88 million tonne.

The ministry said the total yield of pulses in 2017-18 would be 24.51 million tonne, which is 1.37 million tonne higher than the previous year’s production of 23.13 million tonne. However, arhar or tur (red gram) yield would be 4.18 million tonne — down from 4.87 million tonne last year.

It said the production of coarse cereals during 2017-18 is estimated at record 44.87 million tonnes, 1.10 million tonne more compared to production figure of previous year — 43.77 million tonne.

Total Oilseeds production estimates this year have indicated a decline by 0.64 million tonne, from 31.28 million tonne last year to 30.64 million tonne.

Among major oilseeds, groundnut production is expected to increase to 8.94 million tonne this year from 7.46 million tonne last year, but soybean has projected a dip in production — from 13.15 million tonne last year to 10.93 million tonne this year.

Mustard production this year is expected to increase slightly to 8.04 million tonne.

The ministry said total production of sugarcane in 2017-18 is estimated to be 355.10 million tonne, which is higher by 13.06 million tonne than the average sugarcane production of 342 million tonne in the last five years. Last year, the sugarcane production was 306 million tonne.

As per the third advance estimates, production of cotton this year is expected to be 34.86 million bales (of 170 kg each), which is higher by 2.28 million bales than the last year’s production of 32.58 million bales.

Expected production of jute and mesta is 10.62 million bales (of 180 kg each), which is lower than the production last year, 10.96 million bales.

—IANS

Foodgrain production to be record 279.51 million tonne: Government

Wheat production likely to hit 100 MT target this year

Wheat productionBy Saurabh Katkurwar,

New Delhi : Wheat production in the country could this year achieve the long-cherished target of 100 million tonnes (MT), thanks to the conducive climatic conditions throughout the season, especially in March when the grain ripens.

If farmers and scientists are to be believed, climatic conditions in the major wheat-producing states of Punjab, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh are favourable, availability of water is sufficient and pest attacks are relatively negligible.

The Union Agriculture Ministry has predicted 97.11 million tonnes of wheat production this year in its second advanced estimates, issued last month.

However, the output would be over 100 million tonnes due to a consistent level of suitable conditions in every aspect for the crop, said G.P. Singh, Director, Indian Institute of Wheat and Barley Research (IIWBR).

“The climate has been conducive this year and pest attacks, including yellow rust, have been reported in very few pockets. The grain filling (ripening) process is at a good pace owing to optimum temperature. So total production certainly would be over 100 million tonnes,” Singh told IANS.

Union Agriculture Secretary Shobhana Pattanayak also said the government was sure of better production this year.

“Last year, the output was 98.51 million tonnes. This year it will be more than that. But they (IIWBR scientists) are saying it will cross 100 million tonnes,” Pattanayak told IANS.

In 2016-17, the ministry had predicted output of 96.64 million tonnes in its second advanced estimates, but the actual production was 98.51 million tonnes despite a sudden surge in temperature in mid-March.

This March, the temperature is expected to remain below 30 degrees Celsius, which would ensure bumper production, Singh said.

An important constituent of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), the IIWBR is a nodal agency for wheat and barley research activities in the country.

Notably, the area under wheat cultivation has reduced to 30.07 million hectares in 2017-18 from 31.78 million hectares in 2016-17.

The possible reason could be delayed sowing this year due to the stern measures taken by the government against stubble burning, besides increase in areas under cultivation of cotton and summer rice.

Singh said wheat harvesting had already started in Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh and it would start in western Rajasthan in the next few days, while the reaping process in Punjab and Haryana would start early in April.

Manoj Munjal, who has cultivated wheat on 150 acres in Taraodi village of Karnal district, confirmed the expectation of a bumper harvest this year.

“Temperature has gone up by a few degrees but it is still below 30, which is good for grain filling process. Farmers in our area are likely to start reaping by April 13,” Munjal said.

The Food Ministry has decided to procure 32 million tonnes this year, including 11.9 million tonnes from Punjab, 7.4 million tonnes from Haryana, 6.7 million tonnes from Madhya Pradesh and four million tonnes from Uttar Pradesh.

The centre has announced Rs 1,735 per quintal as the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for wheat this year.

According to government data, India’s share in global wheat production was recorded at 15.36 per cent in 2017-18, with China being the leading wheat producing country, followed by India and Russia.

Nepal, Bangladesh and the UAE are the top export destinations for wheat from India.

(Saurabh Katkurwar can be contacted at saurabh.k@ians.in)

—IANS