According to sources in the Agriculture Department, the total foodgrain production expected this year is 117.75 lakh tonnes, against the target of 119.70 lakh tonnes.

In 2006-07, foodgrain production dipped to 90.94 lakh tonnes due to drought in around 130 taluks. But in 2007-08, nearly the whole State received copious rains, resulting in bumper crop. The state’s foodgrain production this year may touch an all-time record.

The highest production earlier was in 2005-06, when the State produced 11.65 lakh tonnes of foodgrain.
Sources pointed out that while foodgrain production during kharif season has been ‘exceptionally good’, the production during rabi season is said to be ‘normal’.

The total production of foodgrain - both cereal and pulses during kharif season - has been 93.38 lakh tonnes. Of this, cereals accounted for production of 85.38 lakh tonnes, and pulses eight lakh tonnes.

Among cereals, rice (27 lakh tonnes), ragi (15.20) and maize (33.94) are the major crops with highest yield during the season.

Among pulses, the production of tur dal was 4.49 lakh tonnes, followed by green gram (1.92 lakh tonnes).
During  rabi season (harvesting is still in progress in case of some crops),  the expected food grain production will be about 16.90 lakh tonnes. Of this, cereals will account for 13.44 lakh tonnes and pulses 3.46 lakh tonnes.
 Among the cereals, jowar would be the crop with highest production (8.79 lakh tonnes), followed by millets (1.91 lakh tonnes). The expected production of pulses is 3.46 lakh tonnes.

Sources said that for the summer season, they have set a target of 7.46 lakh tonnes - of which the rice will account for the lion’s share of 6.75 lakh tonnes.

CANE SUPPORT

The gvernment has convened a meeting with representatives of farmers on February 15 to discuss their demand for a minimum support price of Rs 1,150 per tonne of sugar cane. Farmers have taken up cudgels against Centre’s support price at Rs 850 per tonne. “As around Rs 250 per tonne is spent on crushing and transportation, farmers will be left with hardly Rs 600 per tonne. Hence, we are demanding Rs 350 per tonne, over and above the support price”, Basavaraj Tambake, a senior farmer leader, said. Tambake hoped that unlike the previous season, this season there will be no production of excess sugar cane in the State. “This is due to decline in cane production.”