The Hindu : National : Foodgrains production to go up

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, May 14, 2009
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

National

National

Foodgrains production to go up

Gargi Parsai

Shortfall is expected in wheat, oilseeds, sugarcane, pulses

Wheat output likely to be lower by about 85 lakh tonnes
Shortfall in pulses, edible oilseeds attributed to late rains

NEW DELHI: Foodgrains production for 2008-09 is estimated to be 229.85 million tonnes as against 227.32 million tonnes in the third advance estimates last year although shortfall is expected in the output of wheat, edible oilseeds, sugarcane, pulses and coarse cereals.

The higher output of rice this year pushes the estimated foodgrains output higher this year in comparison to the third advance estimates of last year.

However, when compared with the final estimates of 230.78 million tonnes of foodgrains in 2007-08, the output in the third advance estimates at 229.85 million tonnes, is slightly lower.

Wheat output is likely to be lower by about 85 lakh tonnes over the third advance estimates of last year, while rice production is expected to be higher by 2.68 million tonnes. The final estimates would be declared in about five months.

According to sources, the slight fall in the wheat output is due to lower acreage and productivity owing to erratic rainfall in States of Gujarat, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh. The shortfall in coarse cereals, pulses and edible oilseeds is attributed to late rains in Maharashtra, Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh.

In the third advance estimates wheat output is expected to be 77.63 million tonnes as against 76.78 million tonnes, coarse cereals output is likely to be 28.31 million tonnes compared to 30.87 million tonnes last year while pulses output is estimated at 5.02 million tonnes as against 6.39 million tonnes in the third advance estimates last year.

The edible oil production in 2008-09 is estimated at 181.70 lakh tonnes compared to 189.96 lakh tonnes in the third advance estimates last year. Sugarcane output is estimated at 2892.34 lakh tonnes as against 3442.32 lakh tonnes in the third advance estimates last year.

Cotton production is expected to be 232.68 lakh bales this year compared to 231.90 lakh tonnes in the corresponding period last year, while jute and mesta output is expected to be 103.28 lakh bales as against 115.30 lakh bales last year. Meanwhile, wheat procurement on Tuesday for the 2009-10 marketing season was 219.92 lakh tonnes as against 185.81 lakh tonnes in 2008-09.

Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar held a meeting with senior officials of the Ministry and the Food Corporation of India to discuss the problem of storage of the new wheat.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

National