April 05, 2002

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    The overall foodgrains production, as per the third advance estimates, is likely to be 211.17 million tonnes which will be about 15.25 million tonnes more than the last year’s production of 195.92 million tonnes. The record of foodgrains production so far has been 209.80 million tonnes achieved in 1999-2000. Thus, this year the Indian agriculture is expected to reach new heights. The estimates were released after the conclusion of the National Conference on Agriculture for Kharif Campaign, 2002, here today. Performance of foodgrains production is led by the impressive rice production which is expected to be 90.75 million tonnes, about 5.88 million tonnes more than the production of 84.87 million tonnes achieved last year. The production of wheat at 73.53 million tonnes is expected to be higher by 4.77 million tonnes compared to last year. One significant feature of current year’s foodgrains production performance is that the targets of production of coarse cereals as a group have been accomplished. The country is expected to achieve a production of 33.10 million tonnes against the target of 33.00 million tonnes. The production of coarse cereals last year was 31.62 million tonnes. In this group, maize and bajra have performed particularly well. Against a target of 12.00 million tonnes, the production of maize is expected to be 13.18 million tonnes, which is about 1 million tonne more than last year’s production. The production of bajra is expected to be 7.07 million tonnes against the target of 6.95 million tonnes.

    The overall kharif foodgrains production at 109.5 million tonnes is also expected to be close to the target of 110.13 million tonnes set for the season.

    Performance of the States in eastern India has been particularly impressive. States of Assam, Bihar, Jharkhand, Orissa and West Bengal are expected to contribute an additional 5.5 million tonnes of foodgrains to the total output. The northern States of Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir are also expected to achieve an all time record of foodgrains production. Wheat production in Haryana is expected to reach 10 million tonnes for the first time.

    According to the estimates, the oilseeds production is expected to be around 21.16 million tonnes during the current year as against 18.40 million tonnes produced last year. Both groundnut and soyabean are expected to contribute about 12.91 million which will be higher by 1.42 million tonnes compared to last year’s production. The production of rapeseed and mustard at 5.34 million tonnes is expected to be higher by 1.13 million tonnes compared to last year.

    Among other commercial crops, the area coverage under cotton increased substantially and consequently the production prospects are expected to be significantly higher at 11.30 million bales compared to production of 9.65 million bales achieved last year. This will be approximately 17% higher than the production achieved in last year. The sugarcane production is expected to be 289.41 million tonnes as against 299.21 million tonnes produced last year.

    The Conference also discussed the strategy for forthcoming Kharif season, cropping plan and targets for different crops for different States and input and infrastructure requirements for achieving these targets. The targets for foodgrains production for 2002-03 have been fixed at 220 million tonnes and for oilseeds at 28 million tonnes. The meeting also discussed technical aspects regarding variety of seeds to be sown, extension measures necessary to promote new technology among the farmers and steps needed to overcome pest and disease problems. The States have been advised to lay greater emphasis on larger coverage of area under high yielding varieties, timely supply of inputs like seed, fertilizer and regular surveillance of pests and diseases. They were also advised to adopt strategy for diversification to high value crops like fruits and vegetables, oilseeds & pulses.

    The Conference reviewed the prospects of crop production for 2001-02. Monsoon 2001 was normal to excess in 30 out of 35 meteorological sub-divisions covering 86% of the area and 68% of districts in the country. A special feature of monsoon of 2001 was that 29 meteorological sub-divisions received spatially well-distributed rainfall compared to last seven years. Further, 71 districts belonging to the States of Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, Punjab, Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu, and which had deficient rainfall in 2000 and in 1999, received adequate rains this year. For the country as a whole, the cumulative rainfall for the entire season was 92% of Long Period Average (LPA). Though the level of monsoon rainfall was at par with that of last year, the country is expected to achieve an all time record of foodgrains production, inter-alia, because of better management of the sector. The paradigm shift from the schematic approach to Macro-Management mode which provided required flexibility to the States in implementation of Plan Schemes, as per their area specific requirements, has yielded the expected results. The inputs sector was also effectively managed ensuring adequate availability of quality seeds, fertilizers and pesticides etc. to the farming sector, the Conference was told.

    The two-day conference was chaired by the Union Agriculture Secretary, Shri J.N.L. Srivastava and was attended by State Agricultural Production Commissioners, State Agriculture Secretaries, the Vice-Chancellors of Agricultural Universities, senior experts from the ICAR and senior officers of the Department of Agriculture & Cooperation and Planning Commission and senior officers of the Ministry of Agriculture & Planning Commission.

* Million Bales of 170 kgs. Each

# Million Bales of 180 kgs. Each