270 million ton foodgrain production expected this year: ICAR

Forecast has been made due to normal monsoon

The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)  on Friday said  a production of 270 million tonnes of food grains was expected during the kharif and rabi seasons this year, thanks to the forecast of a normal monsoon.

Director General, ICAR, T Mohapatra, made the announcement while speaking to reporters on the sidelines of 23rd ICAR Regional Committee Meeting here.

"270 million tons production is forecast this year due to normal monsoon," he said.

He said that several rice varieties which can withstand heavy downpour have been developed by researchers, and submergence-tolerant rice varieties like 'Swarna sub 1' should be cultivated to withstand heavy rains/flash flood situations.

Similar "calamity-tolerant" varieties were being developed by Centre for Rice Research Institute, Bhubaneshwar, he said.

ICAR was also getting ready to commercialise rice varieties 'Bina Dhan 8' and 'Bina Dhan 10', he said.

Mohapatra said even though there was normal monsoon this year, cotton cultivation in rain-fed areas should be discouraged.

Regarding GM technologies, he said ICAR was increasing investment in research to resolve bio safety analysis issues.

Pulses promotion was also being taken up in a big way and there was special focus on high yielding varieties. Rs 500 crore has been allocated for pulses' promotion, he added.