India's foodgrain output is likely to remain flat at 252.23 million tonnes in 2015-16 due to drought in 10 states, whereas pulses output is likely to fall marginally, putting pressure on retail prices of lentils.
In foodgrain category, production of rice, coarse cereals and pulses are estimated to fall, while wheat output is likely to increase sharply to 94.04 million tonnes (MT) in 2015-16 crop year (July-June) compared to 86.53 MT last year.
Releasing the third advance estimate of foodgrain production for this year, the Agriculture Ministry said the overall foodgrains production is pegged at 252.23 MT for 2015-16 as against 252.02 MT in the previous year.
Rice output is estimated to decline to 103.36 MT from 105.48 MT, while the production of coarse cereals is likely to drop to 37.78 MT from 42.86 MT in the said period.
Similarly, pulses production is estimated to decline marginally to 17.06 MT in 2015-16 from 17.15 MT last year.
The country is facing back-to-back drought due to poor monsoon. There was 12 per cent less rains this year, while 14 per cent deficient rains in the previous year.
In non-foodgrain category, production of oilseeds, sugarcane, cotton and jute are estimated to decline during the current 2015-16 crop year.
Retail prices of pulses have been rising due to fall in production in the wake of poor monsson and currently rates are ruling as high as Rs 195 per kg.
Oilseeds output is pegged at 25.89 MT as against 27.51 MT, while sugarcane output is estimated at 346.7 MT when compared to 362.3 MT.
Cotton output is estimated to decline to 30.52 million bales (of 170 kg each) in 2015-16 from 34.80 million bales last year, while jute output is seen lower at 10.46 million bales (of 180 kg each) from 11.12 million bales in the said period.
The country had achieved a record foodgrain production of 265.04 MT in 2015-16. The output, however, continued to fall in the consecutive years due to poor monsoon.
