The Agriculture Ministry has set a target to increase foodgrain production by over 6 million tonnes to record 283.7 million tonnes in 2018-19 crop year on hopes of weather office forecast of normal monsoon.
The foodgrain output in the 2017-18 crop year (July-June) is estimated at an all-time high 277.49 million tonnes, as per the second advance estimates released by the ministry in February. The record production in last couple of years has led to fall in prices of agri-commodities and level of distress in farm sector.
Addressing the National Conference on agriculture for Kharif campaign 2018, Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh expressed hope that Met Department's forecast for normal monsoon is a good signal for production of kharif crop.
He also reiterated government's resolve to declare 50 per cent hike in the minimum support price for the coming kharif crops.
Declaring the foodgrains targets at the conference, Union Agriculture Commissioner S.K. Malhotra said the target for wheat output next year is set at 100 million tonnes,while rice production is fixed at 113 million tonnes.
As against the target announced, the estimated production of foodgrains expected for 2017-18 is 277.49 million tonnes as per the second advance estimates declared in February.
The target for pulses production is fixed at 24 million tonnes, while for oilseeds it is 36 million tonnes. Coarse cereals output target is fixed at 46.7 million tonnes against 45.42 million tonnes likely to be achieved this year.
Sugarcane output is set at 355 million tonnes compared to 353.23 million tonnes likely to be achieved this year.
As against estimated cotton production of 33.92 million bales of cotton, the target for next year is 35.5 million bales with each bale of 170 kg.
The two-day conference is being attended by state agriculture officials and commissioners. It will review rabi crops and discuss prospects for kharif crops that will be sown soon.