Foodgrain position to be exceptionally well: Pawar

Union agriculture minister Sharad Pawar today said the country’s foodgrain position was expected to be exceptionally well due to satisfactory rainfall across the country.

“According to the the Weather Bureau forecast, there is going to be 102 per cent, plus and minus, rainfall in August across the country. I hope the growth rate of agriculture and allied sectors to be substantially higher than four per cent this year, largely due to the satisfactory progress of monsoon and several programmes taken up by the government,” he told Business Standard.

He was speaking to reporters on the sidelines of his meeting with NCP ministers in the Maharashtra Cabinet here today. However, he preferred not to give any numbers as sowing was going on in full swing. “There is all possibility that a good monsoon will help remove the foodgrain deficit this year.”

Pawar said nationwide rainfall would also make reservoirs and dams full, and this would be quite crucial for the agriculture sector. At the National Development Council meeting, Pawar said that India had been aiming to achieve an annual average growth of four per cent in agriculture and allied sectors since the IX Plan.

The first three years of the Plan have been a mixed story, with agricultural growth rate varying from 4.7 per cent to 0.2 per cent. He had told states that the combined endeavour must be to have a sustained growth in this sector to ensure rural development and prosperity.

Meanwhile, Pawar, at his meeting with NCP ministers in the Maharashtra Cabinet, said about 6,00,000-7,00,000 tonne of wheat was damaged due to floods in Uttar Pradesh and adjoining areas.