The current spell of rains in some parts of the country will improve prospects for wheat and other rabi crops, paving the way for a record output this year, Agriculture Secretary Mr P K Basu said today.

While sowing in rabi (winter) season starts from October, the harvesting of crops is undertaken during March-April.

“Rains lashed in Uttar Pradesh and some southern states last few days. This will help in improving crop prospect of all rabi crops including wheat,” Mr Basu told PTI.

Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, east Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Orissa, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Mahrashtra have received rainfall in last few days, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

In its mid-day report, IMD has forecast rains and thundershowers at many places over northeastern states in the next 24 hours and frost over some parts of Punjab, Haryana and north Rajasthan during next 48 hours.

Karnataka and some parts of Maharashtra were passing through dry spell and current rains would improve irrigation and crop prospects, said acting Agriculture Commissioner and Special Secretary Mr V Venkatachalam.

He said that the acreage under most rabi crops is better than last year and expressed confidence that a record foodgrains production of 245 million tonnes in the 2011-12 crop year (July-June) is achievable.

As per official data, wheat was sown in 276.43 lakh hectares as on December 30, as against 277.95 lakh hectare in the same period last year.

The acreage under coarse cereals was slightly lower at 55.16 lakh hectare, as against 58.65 lakh hectare in the year-ago period.

Similarly, oilseeds area stood 79.22 lakh hectare, as against 84.57 lakh hectare, and pulses acreage was also down at 138.54 lakh hectare as against 140.28 lakh hectare in the review period.

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