India's 2015/16 grains output 4.5% lower than govt target

India is likely to produce 252.22 million tonnes of grains in 2015/16, 4.5% lower than a target set by New Delhi, the government said in its latest estimate on Tuesday, as two years of drought shrivelled crops.

The output for the year to June 2016 is marginally higher than 252.02 million tonnes of grains produced in 2014/15.

The farm ministry updates food production estimates as it gathers data on the progress of planting in the country. This is the final estimate for the 2015/16 crop year.