The Agriculture Minister, Sharad Pawar, expects foodgrain output this year to be at a record high on timely and widespread rains across the country.
Releasing the first advance estimates for the kharif 2013-14 season, Pawar pegged the foodgrain output at 129.32 million tonnes, higher than last year’s fourth estimate of 128.20 mt. The first advance estimates for 2013-14 are significantly higher than the corresponding five-year average of 116.78 mt.
Rice production is expected to be at 92.32 mt against the targeted 91 mt and the corresponding last year’s 85.89 mt. The first advance estimates for this year are a tad lower than last year’s fourth advance estimate of 92.76 mt.
“The first advance estimates are always conservative,” said Pawar indicating that the final figures would be 5 to 10 per cent higher than the early estimates.
The rice estimates are kept lower as deficient rains in Bihar, Jharkhand and North East has affected the kharif plantings in these States. Besides, the floods in rice growing of Vidarbha and Andhra Pradesh had impacted the standing crop.
Pawar said the maize output will be at a record high of 17.78 mt against last year’s 16.04 mt. Bajra production is expected to be at 8.66 mt, while jowar is pegged at 2.57 mt. Total coarse cereals output is pegged at 30.99 mt against 29.54 mt produced last year.
Pulses output is pegged at 6.01 mt, higher than last year’s fourth advance estimate of 5.91 mt. Production of tur is estimated at 3.04 mt, against last year’s fourth estimate of 3.07 mt. Urad is projected a bit lower at 1.33 mt, against last year’s 1.45 mt and moong at 9 lakh tonnes, higher than 7.6 lakh tonnes produced last year.
Production of oilseeds is expected to be higher at 23.96 mt against last year’s 20.86 mt, boosted by a record high soyabean output of 15.68 mt. Output of groundnut is also seen higher at 5.56 mt against last year’s 3.1 mt and castor seed is pegged at 1.85 mt.
Cotton production is also expected to touch a new record of 353 lakh bales of 170 kg each. The fourth advance estimates for last year had pegged cotton output at 340 lakh bales of 170 kg each. Output of Jute and Mesta is pegged at 111.57 lakh bales of 180 kg each, marginally lower than last year’s 112.96 lakh bales.
Output of sugarcane, despite drought in Maharashtra and Karnataka is pegged at 341.73 million tonnes, against last year’s 228.96 m t.