Govt expects 82 MT wheat production this year

Government hopes to surpass last year's all-time high production of 80.58 million tonnes of wheat, Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar told the Rajya Sabha today and described as manageable the current food security situation in the country.

He said during Question Hour that states like Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh have reported more area under wheat this year.

"This year we will surpass last year's record production," he said, adding the Government expects 82 million tonnes of wheat production this year.

However, rice output may be affected as paddy has not been sown in 56 lakh hectares this year. "We will not be able to achieve the target," he said.

Pulses, which fared poorly last year, is likely to see a better yield this year.

Pawar said 26 states have declared drought in 312 districts. The drought and excessive rains in states like Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh during the last leg of the monsoon had affected Kharif paddy.

He, however, expressed confidence of meeting the target of increasing wheat, rice and pulses production by 20 million tonnes by 2011.

"With high levels of production of rice and wheat during last season and resultant comfortable stocks, food security situation in the country at present is manageable," he said.