Govt pegs 2.8% fall in kharif foodgrain output

In cotton, total production is expected to be about 2.5% less than last year despite more sowing area

The first advance estimate for India’s foodgrain production in the kharif (ending October) season of 2017-18 is estimated at 134.67 million tonnes. This is about 2.8 per cent less than the fourth estimate of last year and about 0.3 per cent less than the first estimate of 2016-17.

The drop is presumed to be due to uneven rain in some parts and a shift in acreage for some crops, particularly soybean, pulses and coarse cereals. A clearer picture will emerge in the coming months, when the final harvest starts hitting the market. This first estimate is a rough calculation, based