Foodgrains output down in 04-05

India's foodgrain production fell 1.5 per cent to 210.44 million tonne in 2004-05 due to inadequate rainfall, minister of state for agriculture Kanti Lal Bhuria said today.

"As compared to 2003, the southwest monsoon in 2004 was erratic with prolonged weak/break monsoon conditions prevailing during late June, most of July, late August and early September over different parts of the country," he said in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha.

For the country, the seasonal rainfall from June 1 to September 30 was 87 per cent of its long period average (LPA).

"As a consequence, kharif foodgrain production in 2004-05 declined and is estimated at 104.08 million tonne, which is 12.8 million tonnes or 10.95 per cent less than the corresponding kharif production in 2003-04.

"However, the rabi production in 2004-05 is estimated at 106.36 million tonne, which is 9.78 million tonne or 10.13 per cent more than the corresponding production figure in 2003-04," he said.

To another question, Bhuria said India's production of garlic at 6.19 lakh tonne in 2004-05 exceeded the demand of 5.79 lakh tonne.

The per cattle milk production in India was 1024 kg per annum during 2003-04 against the world average of 2188 kg per annum, he said.

To a separate question, he said fish production during April-December 2004 was 47.72 lakh tonne against 46.69 lakh tonne during the same period the previous year.