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Foodgrain output will touch 250 million tonnes in 2012-13 on improved rabi prospects, said Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar on Tuesday.
The expectation of a better rabi crop, on revival of late monsoon in August and September, would help offset the decline in kharif.
Poor monsoons had hurt the kharif foodgrain output, which is set to decline by a tenth over the previous year.
The kharif foodgrain production is pegged at 117.18 mt against an all-time high of 129.94 mt in 2011-12.
procurement mechanism
Addressing the Conference of Food Ministers and Secretaries of States and Union Territories, Pawar called for strengthening of foodgrain procurement mechanism in eastern States such as Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and West Bengal.
He said the move to bring green revolution in eastern India would see a rise in paddy production in these States.
foodgrain output
Last year, the total foodgrain output touched an all-time high of 257.44 mt and the target for the current year is pegged at 249.52 mt.
The late revival of monsoons in August and September has helped improve the moisture level in the soil and farmers have been advised to go in for early sowing, Pawar said.
The coverage of pulses, oilseeds and cereals in rabi is expected to be higher than last year.
Pawar attributed the rise in wheat and rice output to the effective procurement arrangements for these cereals. He also emphasised the need for procurement of coarse cereals, oilseeds and pulses.
The Minister also called upon states such as Punjab and Haryana to diversify into other crops besides rice and wheat.
Productivity in Punjab and Haryana has been affected as these States only grow rice and wheat. “Diversification of agriculture will not be possible unless there is assured procurement,” Pawar said asking procurement agencies such as FCI and Nabard and State governments to work out plans in this regard.
Vishwanath.kulkarni@thehindu.co.in
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