India to see record wheat harvest
Feb. 9: Setting fresh records in wheat and pulses production, India’s overall foodgrain output in the 2010-11 crop year is expected to bounce back after a drought year with a growth of 6 per cent at 232.07 million tonnes “We are likely to achieve record production of wheat at 81.47 million tonnes (MT), pulses at 16.51 MT, and cotton at 33.9 million bales,” said the agriculture minister, Mr Sharad Pawar.
As a result, Mr Pawar said foodgrain production is likely to increase to 232.07 MT against 218.11 MT last year. This would be just a notch below the record of 234.47 MT in 2008-09. However experts say that the storage of the foodgrains will remain a major concern for the government. According to officials the government requires an additional 150 lakh tonnes of storage capacity.
Experts also mention that higher production levels should lead to better procurement this year, which will be key to implementing the proposed food security bill. The agriculture minister said that production would be better despite a significant crop damage due to drought in states like Bihar, Jharkhand, Orissa and West Bengal this year coupled with extreme weather conditions including cyclone, unseasonal rains, a severe cold wave and frost condition in several parts of the country.
“It was our desire to reach four per cent growth, but there was drought last year. However, we have reached 5.4 per cent growth in GDP (in agriculture and allied sector) because of the efforts of the farming community, extension workers and the scientists,” he said.
The rice production is estimated to increase at 94.01 mt in 2010-11 from 89.09 mt last year while wheat production is likely to be at 81.47 mt against 80.8 mt last year. Pulses output, which has been a concern due to supply constraints, will also be at a record high of 16.51 mt against 14.66 mt last year. Among coarse cereals, the production is set to go up to 40.08 mt against 33.55 mt last year, according to the second advance estimate.
Among the non-food crops, cotton output is likely to touch a record 33.9 million bales, against 24.2 million bales.
Post new comment