QUICK ESTIMATE PUTS KHARIF FOOD GRAIN PRODUCTION AT 91 MILLION TONNES

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The two-day National Conference on Agriculture for Rabi Campaign 2002-03, based on the information furnished by the State Governments and using different inputs available during the Conference, today made a quick assessment of the Kharif crop prospects according to which the total food grain production during the season might be around 90.85 million tonnes.

During discussions, the States highlighted the fact that because of revival of monsoon in Mid- August there was late sowing of Kharif crops in certain regions of the country. Remote Sensing Based Assessment by Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) confirmed that in large areas the transplanting of rice was late by about 40 days. In view of this, the meeting felt, it would be prudent to postpone the exercise of first Advance Estimates by about a month. This would enable the Government to crosscheck the information furnished by the State Governments with the information received from various other sources including ISRO and get objective assessment, the meeting felt.

The Conference also discussed the strategy for the forthcoming Rabi season, cropping plan and targets for different crops for different States and input and infrastructure requirements for achieving these targets. The meeting was told that contingency plan has been prepared for regaining crop lost during the Kharif both for food and non-food crops. Participants hoped that by adopting appropriate strategy, target for food grains crops fixed at 109.5 million tonnes in Rabi 2002-03 could be exceeded.

The Conference reviewed the crop prospects of Kharif 2002 season. The overall rainfall during the current monsoon season up to 19^th September was deficient by about 19% as against a deficiency of about 8% during the Kharif 2001 season. However, more serious was the fact that despite normal takeoff monsoon in June, there was total failure of monsoon in July 2002. In fact, July 2002 was driest over the last 100 years. The States in the northwestern region particularly, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh & Rajasthan were severely affected. States in the south region like Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka & Tamil Nadu also were adversely affected. However, the rainfall picked up by mid August and there was good rainfall between 15^th August and 19^th September 2002.

The Conference was chaired by the Union Agriculture & Cooperation Secretary, Shri J.N.L. Srivastava, Secretary) and was attended by State Agricultural Production Commissioners, Agricultural Secretaries and State Agriculture Directorate Officers, Vice-Chancellors of Agricultural Universities, Senior Experts from the ICAR and Senior Officers of the Department of Agriculture & Cooperation.

The comparative position for different crops vis-a`-vis last Kharif position is summarized below:

Tentative Assessment of Kharif Crop Prospects 2002-03

Production :Million tonnes

Crop Food grains	Assessment of production 2002-03	4th Advance Estimates of Production (2001-02) as on 27.6.2002	Difference over last year
Rice	66.01	79.36	-13.35
Jowar	3.89	4.30	-0.41
Bajra	4.43	8.10	-3.67
Maize	9.86	11.41	-1.55
Ragi	2.07	2.66	-0.59
Small Millets	0.36	0.59	-0.23
Coarse Cereals	20.61	27.06	-6.45
Tur	2.22	2.37	-0.15
Other Kharif Pulses	2.01	2.72	-0.71
Kharif Pulses	4.23	5.09	-0.86
Kharif Food grains	90.85	111.51	-20.66

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Production:Lakh tonnes

Crop Commercial Crop	Assessment of production 2002-03	4th Advance Estimates of 2001-2002 as on 27.6.2002	Difference In production
Groundnut	46.25	55. 50	-9.25
Castorseed	5.41	7.20	-1.79
Sesamum	4.23	6.70	-2.47
Nigerseed	0.89	1.70	-0.81
Soyabean	58.21	58.80	-0.59
Sunflower	2.23	2.10	+0.13
Total Kharif oilseeds	117.21	132.00	-14.79
Sugarcane	2825.94	2922.10	-9.6
Cotton*	88.72	116.90	-28.18
Jute**	90.56	96.40	-5.84
Mesta**	8.79	11.50	-2.71
Jute & Mesta	99.35	107.90	-8.55

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*Lakh bales of 170 kgs each

** Lakh bales of 180 kgs each