Govt targets additional 8.5 MT foodgrain output

The government targets additional production of 8.5 million tonnes of foodgrain and 1.5 million tonnes of oilseeds in the rabi season this year to compensate for the loss of farm output in the summer season, Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar said today.

"Improved soil moisture due to late monsoon rains has improved the prospect of rabi crops throughout the country," Pawar said at the Economic Editors conference here.

Foodgrain production was around 116 million tonnes in the rabi season last year.

The government expects sugar production at 16 million tonnes in 2009-10 season against 15 million tonnes in the last season.

According to official estimates, released yesterday, the country's foodgrain production, including rice, coarse grains and pulses, would be down by over 21 million tonnes at 96.63 million tonnes in the summer crop due to the impact of natural calamities.

Under the impact of drought and partly floods, rice production is estimated to dip by 15 million tonnes to 69.45 million tonnes in the kharif harvest.