Government sees record 284.83 MT food grain output in FY18

Food grain production in the country in 2017-18 crop year will be record 284.83 million tonne (MT) as per the fourth advance estimates of the Agriculture Ministry released on Tuesday, registering a rise of 9.72 MT over the last year's total production.

Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh said rice output would be 112.91 MT and that of wheat 99.70 MT, as compared to 109.70 MT and 98.51 MT, respectively, in 2016-17.

"I am happy to share the 4th advanced estimates of food grain production for the year 2017-18. The country witnesses record food grain production estimated at 284.83 million tonnes," Singh said in a Tweet.

The Minister also said that horticulture production in 2017-18 would be 306.81 MT in 2017-18 as against 300.64 MT in 2016-17.

In 2016-17, the total food grain production stood at 275.11 MT.

As per the estimates, the country will also produce 46.99 MT of coarse cereals, 28.72 MT of maize, 25.23 MT of pulses, 11.23 MT of gram and 3.56 MT of urad (split black gram).

Production of tur (arhar or pigeon pea) is expected to be around 4.25 MT this year.

On year-on-year basis, production of coarse cereals this year will be higher by 5.59 MT, while pulse output would be higher by 2.10 MT.

Total oilseeds production during 2017-18 is estimated at 31.31 MT, showing marginal hike compared to that last year.

Soyabean production is likely to be 10.98 MT of soybean, 9.18 MT of groundnut, 8.32 MT of mustard and rapeseed, and 1.57 MT of castor seed.

Total production of sugarcane this year is expected to be 376.90 MT as against 342.04 MT in 2016-17.

As per the estimates, production of cotton would be 34.89 million bales (each of 170 kg), which is higher by 2.31 million bales than the production of 32.58 million bales in 2016-17.

--IANS

spk/nir