MP optimistic about farm sector output

State govt estimate expects 2,098 kg per hectare of rabi crop in FY13, against 1,777 kg per hectare achieved during the previous year

With Madhya Pradesh's soybean production in 2012-13 touching an all-time high of 8.3 millon tonne, compared to 6.5 million tonne in the previous year, the state might paint a rosy picture of its farm sector despite a recent spell of inclement weather.

The state government estimate expects 2,098 kg per hectare of rabi crop in FY13, against 1,777 kg per hectare achieved during the previous year. While kharif production is estimated at 1,383 kg per hectare, against 1,096 kg per hectare.

Madhya Pradesh had posted a record growth of 18.9 per cent in farm sector in FY12. In the last week of March, Central Statistics Office had put the state's farm sector growth at 14 per cent.

The state government has also revised upwards its wheat procurement targets. "In no case we will close this procurement year with 11 million tonne of wheat," D N Sharma, director at state agriculture department, said.

A data prepared by the state commissioner of land records said rabi output is likely to touch 21.3 million metric tonne, as acreage had also gone up from 9.95 million hectare to 10.4 million hectare.

According to the data, wheat production would go up to 16.1 million tonne from last year's 12.7 million tonne. The gram production is likely to touch 3.06 million tonne from 3.3 million tonne in the previous year. Rabi pulse production is estimated to stay stagnant at 3.65 million tonne.

Rabi cereals, including paddy, jowar, maize, bajra and other coarse grains are likely to touch a record yield of 1,899 kg per hectare from 1,366 kg per hectare in 2011-12. The total rabi pulses, including tur, urad and moong is projected at 0.78 million tonne from 0.52 million tonne in the previous year.

"The bad weather conditions had made an adverse impact on an area of nearly three-and-a-half lakh hectare, otherwise the growth might have been higher," Sharma said.