FOODGRAINS OUTPUT FOR 2002-03 ESTIMATED
AT 184.06 MT
CONFORTABLE
STOCKS ENSURE FOOD SECURITY, SAYS THE GOVERNMENT
The overall foodgrains production for
the year 2002-03 is estimated at 184.06 million tonnes as against
the record production of 212.02 million tonnes achieved in the previous
year. The third advance estimates, the latest were finalised at
the National Conference on Agricultural for Kharif Campaign 2003
that concluded here today. Announcing the estimates Shri R.C.A.
Jain, Secretary in the Union Agriculture Ministry said despite the
decline in foodgrains production as a result of the worst drought
of the century last year, there is no room for concern as the foodgrains
stock in the country continues to be well above the buffers stock
norms ensuring country’s food security. The two day National Conference
was attended by the State Agricultural Commissioners, Agriculture
Secretaries, Vice-Chancellors of Universities, senior Scientists
from the ICAR and senior officers of the Planning Commission, Department
of Space and the Union Ministry of Agriculture.
The foodgrains production
in 2002-03 has declined by 13.20 per cent from the previous crop
year. The Rabi foodgrains production estimated at 94.61 million
tonnes has for the first time exceeded the Kharif foodgrains production
estimate at 89.45 million tonnes. The latest estimates of the
overall foodgrains production marks a marginal improvement of
89 lakh tonnes over the second advanced estimates announced in
February this year. The rice production is expected to be 76.91
million tonnes, a decline of 17.40 per cent from the previous
year’s production of 93.08 million tonnes. The Rabi Rice output
is estimated at 10.18 million tonnes. Wheat production has suffered
less due to better weather conditions in the winter season. In
spite of considerable decline in area the wheat production is
estimated to be 70.26 million tonnes compared to 71.81 million
tonnes in 2001-02. The predominantly rainfed crops of coarse cereals
and pulses have been severely effected by the monsoon failure
last year. The total coarse cereals production is expected to
be 25.08 million tonnes marking a decline of 26 per cent from
the previous year. The production of pulses at 11.8 million tonnes
has declined by about 10 per cent.
Oil seeds production
suffered the most declining to 15.57 million tonnes from 20.46
million tonnes in 2001-02, a decline of about 24 per cent. The
Rabi Oil Seeds production estimated at 7.5 million tonnes has,
however, declined by only 5.6 per cent from the previous year.
Cotton production has declined by 15.61 per cent while in the
case of Jute & Mesta and Sugarcane, the decline is in the
range of 5-6 per cent.
During the review
of the prospects of the crop production for 2002-03 Shri Jain
said the year witnessed monsoon rainfall deficiency of 19 per
cent at the National level with 19 out 36 meteorological sub-divisions
in the country receiving deficient or scanty rainfall. The deficiency
of 49 per cent in the agriculturally most active month of July
severely affected agricultural operations.
The Conference discussed
in detail and strategies for the forthcoming Kharif season including
cropping plan and availability of key inputs for different crops
in the states, flexible implementation of the Central Plan Schemes
in macro-management mode and the consequent benefits, reforms
in agricultural marketing, credit and risk management and update
on WTO discussions. For the first time, important issues relating
to Animal Husbandry sector were discussed at the Conference.
