Despite fall in estimated wheat output in the current crop year ending in June, the country’s overall foodgrain production is likely to grow to a record high. Foodgrain output is expected to increase 0.9 per cent to 277.49 million tonnes, exceeding the previous record of 275.11 million tonnes during 2016-17.
In its second advance estimate of major crops, the Agriculture Ministry said wheat output is estimated to be around at 97.11 million tonnes in 2017-18 due to fall in acreage, a decline of 1.40 per cent. But the rice output is estimated to increase by 1.31 million tonnes over the 109.70 million tonnes in last year.
The Government releases total four estimates, before the final one, at different stages of harvesting. The first advance estimate was issued in September 2017. The third estimate will be released by May and the fourth by August.
According to the latest estimates, output of rice, pulses, coarse cereals, cotton and sugarcane is expected to be higher this year, while wheat and oilseeds production may decline.
The foodgrain basket comprises wheat, rice, coarse cereals and pulses. The kharif (summer) crops have been already harvested, and rabi (winter) crops have now started arriving in mandis.
As a result of near-normal rainfall during monsoon 2017 and various policy initiatives taken by the Government, the country has witnessed record foodgrain production in the current year, the Agriculture Ministry said.
Officials said the fall in wheat production is mainly due to 4.27 per cent drop in acreage at 30.42 million hectare in the current rabi season. The wheat acreage has fallen due to farmers shifted to pulse crops in Rajashtan, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Haryana, West Bengal, Maharashtra and Uttarakhand. The wheat was cultivated at 30.42 million hectare in the current rabi season of 2017-18. Farmers had sown wheat in 31.78 million hectare in the 2016-17 crop year (July-June).
Rice production is expected to climb to a record 111.01 million tonnes this crop year, 1.2 per cent higher than last year’s output. Much of the rice production comes from the kharif season. Pulses production is pegged at a record 23.95 MT this year, up by 0.82 MT, from 23.13 MT last year. Among pulses, gram and urad production is estimated to be a record 11.10 MT and 3.23 MT respectively, this year. Moreover, the production of pulses during 2017-18 is higher than the Five years ‘average production by 5.10 million tonnes.
In case of cash crop, sugarcane production is estimated to increase significantly to 353.23 MT in 2017-18 crop year as against 306.07 MT last year. Cotton output is pegged higher at 33.92 million bales (of 170 kg each) as against 32.58 million bales last year, while that of jute/mesta is estimated to be lower at 10.51 million bales (of 180 kg each) during the said period.
Production of coarse cereals is estimated at record 45.42 MT this year as against 43.77 MT in 2016-17 crop year. However, oilseeds production is pegged lower by 1.39 MT at 29.88 MT in 2017-18 as against 31.28 MT during 2016-17. Among oilseeds, soyabean output is likely to decline to 11.39 MT this year from 13.79 MT in 2016-17, while groundnut output is pegged at 8.22 MT as against 7.56 MT in the said period.