Maharashtras Foodgrains Output May Miss Target By 52 Lakh Tonne

For the third consecutive year, the kharif production in Maharashtra is unlikely to achieve the target set by the agriculture department. As per the latest estimates, the foodgrains production, including cereals, pulses and oilseeds, is likely to reach 92 lakh tonne against the targetted 144 lakh tonne.

The kharif foodgrains production has been falling short of the target since the last three years. However, the rabi prospects are favourable and it should make up for some of the losses of the kharif season, officials in the agriculture department said. Production of cereals including coarse grains is estimated at 63.25 lakh tonne as against the targetted 95.77 lakh tonne. Production of pulses too is expected to fall short of the target of 24.35 lakh tonne to 11.63 lakh tonne, officials said.

In case of oilseeds, the production is likely to be around 16.87 lakh tonne against the target of 24.14 lakh tonne.

Among coarse grains, jowar is the main crop of Maharashtra. While it had touched a record production of five million tonne in 1992-93, low prices have led to its subsequent decline in favour of other crops, mainly soyabean.

Production of soyabean has been going up since 1991-92 with output increasing from two lakh tonne to over 13 lakh tonne. Maharashtra is also one of the highest producers of safflower accounting for over 70 per cent of the total production of the crop.

Though the state is the highest sugar producer, this year the production would be lower on account of decline in sugarcane production.