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New Delhi: India’s foodgrain production is likely to reach a record 15.50 million tonnes in the current kharif season on improved rice production amid a good monsoon, the Agriculture Ministry said on Tuesday.
The production of food grains comprising rice, pulses and coarse cereals stood at a record 149.56 million tonnes in the Kharif season of the 2020-21 crop year (July-June).
Record production has been estimated in rice, sugarcane and cotton. However, production of coarse cereals and oilseeds is expected to remain marginally lower during the Kharif season this year.
Sowing of kharif (summer) crops like paddy begins with the onset of southwest monsoon from June, while harvesting in most parts starts from October.
Releasing the first improved foodgrain production estimates for the current Kharif season, Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said: “Record foodgrain production in Kharif season is estimated at 150.50 million tonnes.”
He said that apart from the tireless hard work of the farmers and scientists, the policies of the farmer friendly government are getting a bumper crop.
According to the data, pulses production is likely to increase to 9.45 million tonnes in the 2021-22 kharif season from 8.69 million tonnes in the previous year.
The production of tur, the main kharif pulse, is estimated to increase marginally to 4.43 million tonnes from 4.28 million tonnes. However, the production of coarse cereals is estimated to decline from 36.46 million tonnes to 34 million tonnes.
Among coarse cereals, maize production is estimated to decline to 21.24 million tonnes in the 2021-22 kharif season from 21.44 million tonnes in the previous year.
Similarly, the production of oilseeds is estimated to be lower from 24.03 million tonnes to 23.39 million tonnes.
Among oilseeds, groundnut production is estimated to be marginally lower at 8.25 million tonnes as against 8.25 million tonnes, while soybean production is estimated at 12.72 million tonnes as against 12.89 million tonnes.
In case of cash crops, sugarcane production is estimated to be a record 419.25 million tonnes during the 2021-22 kharif season as compared to 399.25 million tonnes in the previous year.
Cotton production is also likely to record a record 36.22 million bales (170 kg each) as against 35.38 million bales last year.
As per the data, the production of Jute and Mesta is estimated to be 9.61 million bales (180 kg each) during this year as compared to 9.55 million bales last year.
read also: Depletion of fertilizer stock with low reservoir level threatens sowing of rabi season
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