Centre eyes record foodgrain production this year

The foodgrain production this year will be a record 279.51 million tonnes, which is 4.4 million tonnes more than the previous record of 275.11 million tonnes achieved in 2016-17, the agriculture ministry said in its third advance estimates.

According to the estimates released by the government, farmers have reported all-time high production of – rice, wheat, coarse cereals and pulses during 2017-18.

The latest estimates are slightly higher than the second advance estimates released in February that pegged the food grains production at 277.49 million tonnes.

According to the data, rice output is estimated at a record 111.52 million tonnes as against 109.7 million tonnes in the 2016-17 crop year.

The production of wheat during 2017-18 is estimated at a record 98.61 million tonnes as against 98.51 million tonnes in the previous year. Coarse cereals output is also seen at a record 44.87 million tonnes as against 43.77 million tonnes achieved during 2016-17.

“Total pulses production during 2017-18 is estimated at a record 24.51 million tonnes which is higher by 1.37 million tonnes than the previous year’s production of 23.13 million tonnes,” the statement said.

According to the third advance estimates, production of oilseeds is estimated to have declined to 30.64 million tonnes in 2017-18 from 31.28 million tonnes in the previous year.

However, sugarcane registered a significant increase of 49.03 million tonnes over 2016-17. The total production of sugarcane during 2017-18 is estimated at 355.10 million tonnes.

Production of cotton during 2017-18 is estimated to have increased to 34.86 million bales (of 170 kg each) from 32.58 million bales in the previous year.

Jute and Mesta output are estimated at 10.62 million bales (of 180 kg each), lower than the production achieved during 2016-17.