Replying to a question in Lok Sabha, he said production estimates for the next crop year, however, are not available yet as the agriculture year has not commenced.
India has a July-June crop year and the first advance production estimates for the year are available only in September after sowing for the kharif crop is over.
According to Planning Commission, total food grain demand in the country is expected to increase to 199.39 million tonnes in the current financial year that commenced April 1, compared with 196.68 million tonnes in 2007-08.
For the crop year ending June, with total food grain output estimated at a record high of 227.3 million tonnes, supply is seen much higher than demand.
