Food grains output estimated at 275.68 million tonnes

Total food grains output for the country during 2016-17 is estimated to be at a "record" 275.68 million tonnes, the Agriculture Ministry said on Wednesday.

According to the 4th Advance Estimates, this year's production is higher by 10.64 million tonnes, about 4 per cent above the previous record production of 265 million tonnes in 2013-14.

"The current year's production is also higher by 18.67 million tonnes (7.27 per cent) than the previous five years' (2011-12 to 2015-16) average production of food grains.

"The current year's production is significantly higher by 24.12 million tonnes (9.59 per cent) than the last year's food grains production," an official press release said.

In its 3rd Advance Estimates issued in May this year, the ministry had predicted the production at 273.38 million tonnes.

Total production of rice is estimated at "record" 110.15 million tonnes, which is 3.28 per cent higher that the previous record of 106.65 per cent during 2013-14.

Similarly, wheat production is expected to touch 98.38 million figures, almost 2.64 per cent higher than the previous record production of 95.85 million tonnes during 2013-14.

However, production of sugarcane is estimated at 306.72 million tonnes, which is a decrease of 12 per cent compared to that in the previous year.

The ministry said the assessment of production of different crops was based on the feedback received from states and validated with information available from other sources.

It said the production of coarse cereals was estimated at "new record level" of 44.19 million tonnes, which is 1.82 per cent higher than the previous record production of 43.40 million tonnes during 2010-11.

Citing "significant increase" in the acreage and productivity of pulses, the ministry has estimated total production during 2016-17 to be at 22.95 million tonnes, 19.22 per cent higher than the previous record of 19.25 million tonnes during 2013-14.

As per the ministry data, production of maize, gram and urad is estimated at 26.26 million tonnes, 9.33 million tonnes and 2.80 million tonnes, respectively. Output of tur (pigeon pea) would be at "record" 4.78 million tonnes.

With an increase of 6.85 million tonnes (27.11 per cent) in production this year over the previous year, total output of oil seeds is estimated at 32.10 million tonnes.

The ministry said production of soyabean, groundnut, rapeseed (mustard) and castor seed was estimated at 13.79 million tonnes, 7.56 million tonnes, 7.98 million tonnes and 1.42 million tonnes, respectively.

With production of 33.09 million bales (of 170 kg each), cotton has showed increase of 10.29 per cent over the last year's production. Also, production of Jute and Mesta estimated at 10.60 million bales (of 180 kg each) is marginally higher (0.73 per cent) than its production of 10.52 million bales last year.

--IANS

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