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New Delhi: India raised its estimate on food-grain production for the ongoing crop year ending June, with normal rains last monsoon season boosting the output of wheat, rice, coarse cereals and pulses.
The agriculture ministry’s third advance estimates of major crops pegged the output at a record 279.51 million tonnes, raising its February forecast by 0.72%.
The previous record was 275.11 million tonnes, achieved in 2016-17.
The first advance estimate was issued in September 2017, followed by the second in February.
The fourth and final estimate will come by August.
As per the second advance estimate for 2017-18, total food-grain production was pegged at 277.49 million tonnes.
“As a result of near normal rainfall during monsoon 2017 and various policy initiatives taken by the government, the country has witnessed record food-grain production in the current year,” the agriculture ministry said.
The government expects rice production to reach 111.52 million tonnes, 0.46% higher than the second advance estimate and breaking the previous record production of 109.70 million tonnes achieved during 2016-17.
Wheat output is pegged at 98.61 million tonnes, an increase of 1.54% from the February estimate.
The country previously had its highest wheat production in 2016-17 at 98.51 million tonnes.
Output of pulses — largely gram, urad and tur — is projected at 24.51 million tonnes, an increase of 2.34% over the second advance estimate, as a result of significant increase in the area coverage and productivity of all major pulses.
In 2016-17, production was 23.13 million tonne.
Coarse cereals production is estimated at 44.87 million tonnes, a 1.21% fall from the second advance estimate.
However, it will still be better than the record output of 43.77 million tonnes hit in 2016-17.
The government predicts cotton production to increase 2.77% over the second advance estimate to 34.86 million bales in the third estimate.
Each bale weighs 170 kg.
Production of sugarcane is estimated at 355.10 million tonnes, 0.53% higher than the second advance estimate.
This is 49.03 million tonnes more than the year before, the government said in its statement.
Production of oilseeds including groundnut, mustard and soyabean saw an increase of 2.74% to 30.64 million tonnes over the second advance estimate.
This though is lower than the previous year’s 31.28 million tonnes.
Jute and mesta output is estimated at 10.62 million bales (of 180 kg each).
