Eyeing 4% higher foodgrain production

Haryana has set a target for foodgrain production for 2011-12 at 173.04 lakh tonnes (51.27 lakh tonnes for kharif and 121.77 lakh tonnes for rabi crops), four per cent higher than last year.

Similarly, the targets for sugarcane, cotton and oilseeds have been fixed at 70 lakh tonnes; 25.44 lakh bales; and 11.72 lakh tonnes, respectively.

As per the economic survey 2011 report, Haryana has recorded a remarkable incr-ease in foodgrain production which touched the mark of 50.22 lakh tonnes during Kharif season in 2011. It is 5.6 per cent higher than that of the previous year. The productivity of cotton was 739 kg per hectare (lint), says the state government.

The economic survey further states that production of rice is likely to be 37.59 lakh tonnes in 2011-12 and that of wheat 118.61 lakh tonnes.

The production of oilseeds and sugarcane in 2011-12 is estimated at 10.29 lakh tonnes and 67.45 lakh tonnes as against 9.65 lakh and 60.42 lakh tonnes, respectively, in 2010-11. Cotton is likely to increase from 17.44 lakh bales in 2010-11 to 26.21 lakh bales in 2011-12.

The state is second largest contributor of foodgrain to the Central pool. Haryana accounts for more than 60 per cent export of Basmati rice in the country. Also, the state achieved an impressive level of productivity of 1,869 kg per hectare under mustard crop in 2010-11 — the highest in the country.