Chinese whispers: Eye estimates

Estimates on sowing are tricky, as it is subject to factors such as weather conditions, water availability and input supply. With sowing estimates sometimes at variance with the final production numbers, the central government has decided to tread lightly. This rabi season onwards, it is adding a rider to every sowing update — that the figures are tentative, based on “eye estimates” (estimates arrived at by just looking at a field) and not cobbled together using technology. This rider was conspicuous by its absence in the last kharif season.