India’s foodgrain production in 2014-15 is likely to be almost 8 million tonnes (mt) less than the fourth advance estimate for 2013-14. An official statement outlining the second advance estimate figures, which captures output for the Rabi season, pegged foodgrain production at 257.07 million tonnes (mt), against 264.77 mt in the fourth advance estimate.
A poor monsoon last year has impacted rabi acreage with data released by the Directorate of Economics and Statistics under the Agriculture Ministry indicating that coverage stood at 605.85 lakh hectares (lh) as on February 6 while it was 644.92 lh during the corresponding period in 2013-14.
“As compared to last year’s record production of 265.57 mt, current year’s production of foodgrains is lower by 8.50 mt. This decline has occurred on account of lower production of rice, coarse cereals and pulses due to erratic rainfall conditions during the monsoon season,” said the statement.
The first advance estimates estimated total production of Kharif foodgrains at 120.27 mt that was lower by 8.97 mt from the corresponding period in 2013-14.
Production of wheat, the main Rabi crop, is expected to fall marginally from a record 95.85 mt in 2013-14 to 95.76 mt while coarse cereals output is estimated to be 3.46 mt lower at 39.83 mt. Total rice production is likely to decline by 3.61 mt to 103.04 mt after the Kharif season experienced a monsoon that was deficient by 12 per cent.
The Ministry estimated lower output of around 3 per cent as compared to the previous year while output exceeded average production over the last five years by 8.15 mt.
Pulses output is expected at 18.43 mt, about 1.35 mt less than 2013-14, while total production of oilseeds is estimated at 29.83 mt which amounts to a 3.04 mt decline from the fourth advance estimate.
Sugarcane production is likely to rise by 17.14 mt to 354.95 mt while total production of cotton is estimated at 35.15 million bales (of 170 kg. each) which is less than the fourth advance estimate of 36.59 million bales. Jute and mesta output is estimated at 11.47 million bales (of 180 kg each) for 2014-15, lower by 0.22 million bales.