The upward revision of estimates of kharif foodgrain output by the agriculture ministry vindicates the plea made in this column earlier that this year’s drought was different from typical droughts and might not cause as much crop loss as was generally feared. The anticipated output of rice, which was put at 69.45 million tonnes in the first advance estimates released on November 3, has been hiked by about 2.2 million tonnes to 71.65 million tonnes. The total kharif foodgrain harvest is now forecast at 98.83 million tonnes.

<p><table width='100%' border=0 cellspacing=0><tr><td style='FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 18px; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; COLOR: #0253B7;'><B>Surinder Sud:</B> A reason to cheer</td></tr><tr><tr><td style='FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 11px; '>Statistics bear out the fact that this year

Surinder Sud: A reason to cheer

Statistics bear out the fact that this years drought was different from those in the past.

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