Govt targets additional grain output in rabi season

In an attempt to partly offset the 18 per cent decline in kharif grain output, the government is working to increase rabi grain output by over 7 per cent, or 8.5 million tonnes, through an expansion in acreage. Rabi output stood at 116.18 million tonnes last year.

“The first estimate indicates a shortfall of around 15 million tonnes in rice, 5.5 million tonnes in coarse cereals and 2.5 million tonnes in oilseeds during kharif 2009-10. We have, therefore, taken measures to augment domestic production in rabi to partially offset losses in kharif,” Sharad Pawar, union agriculture minister, said at the Economic Editors’ Conference.

“Improved soil moisture due to late monsoon rains has also improved the prospects of rabi crop,” he added.

The government is working to increase wheat production by two million tonnes, rice production by one million tonnes and pulses output by one million tonnes as well. An increase of 1.2 million tonnes in oilseeds production is also being targeted.

This year’s kharif crop was affected due to delayed and deficient monsoon, coupled with erratic distribution over most parts of the country, causing output of most crops to fall to a seven-year low. The country’s kharif grain output has been projected to fall to a seven-year low of 96.63 million tonnes as against 117.70 million tonnes last year.