Wheat output seen at record high this year: Pawar

Adequate soil moisture left following late monsoon rain in major growing regions to contribute to growth

India’s wheat output is set to tough a record high this rabi season, owing to adequate soil moisture following the late monsoon in major growing areas.

Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar has estimated this season, wheat production would exceed the record 94.9 million tonnes (mt) in the 2011-12 crop year (July-June). In the 2012-13 crop year, production had declined to 92.5 mt.

“The government hopes this rabi season, wheat production would achieve another milestone, given the right amount of moisture available in the soil and various interventions by the central and state governments,” Pawar said.

He added wheat productivity had increased manifold through the years. Against 0.8 tonnes a hectare in 1947, productivity now stands at three tonnes a hectare. India, a net importer till a few years ago, is now the second-largest wheat producer and exporter.

This year, the onset of the southwest monsoon was on time and most areas have recorded normal rains. However, in some areas in Bihar, Jharkhand and the Northeast, rainfall was 20-30 per cent of the long-period average. Pawar said good rains in July and August had raised hopes of a bumper harvest this year, adding a dry September would help the rice crop mature well in north India.

Against last year’s kharif foodgrain production of 128.2 mt, this year, production was pegged at 129.32 mt, according to the first advance estimate. Record production in last few years had given confidence to policymakers to roll out the ambitious food security Bill, Pawar said.

However, he added there was a need to encourage crop diversification and change cropping patterns, with appropriate supporting prices and marketing mechanisms, he said. This year, the government had provided Rs 500 crore towards enhancing productivity, he said.

Haryana, Punjab and western Uttar Pradesh had already prepared an action plan to divert at least five per cent of the paddy fields to other alternative crops. For this, state procurement machinery was being strengthened and the regions facing challenges on this front were getting central and state government assistance, Pawar said. States were also being urged to introduce marketing reforms in line with the Agriculture Produce Marketing Committee Act to enable farmers to sell products without the intervention of mandis, he added.

An increase in agricultural production would have to primarily be accounted for by enhancement in productivity. Therefore, India would have to adopt scientific management of inputs, use quality seeds and efficiently use fertilisers and water resources, Pawar said.

Wheat production
Crop year (July – June)	Output (million tonnes)
2000-01	69.68
2001-02	72.77
2002-03	65.76
2003-04	72.16
2004-05	68.64
2005-06	69.35
2006-07	75.81
2007-08	78.57
2008-09	80.68
2009-10	80.8
2010-11	86.87
2011-12	94.88
2012-13	92.46
2013-14	94.88+
Source: Ministry of Agriculture