MUMBAI (Commoditiescontrol) - Backed by higher production of winter-grown crops, India’s foodgrains output is estimated to reach a record 277.48 million tonne in 2017-18 while the crucial wheat harvest might see a marginal decline.
According to the second advance estimate released by the agriculture ministry on Tuesday, wheat production may slip to 97.11 million tonne in 2017-18 crop year (July-June) compared with 98.51 million tonne in the previous year. The fall in wheat production is mainly due to 4.27 per cent drop in acreage at 30.42 million hectare this season as many farmers in Madhya Pradesh shifted to chana crop.
The foodgrains production in rabi season is seen at an all-time high of 139.02 million tonne and kharif grown cereals and pulses at 138.46 million tonne this year. Last year, the country had produced a total 275.11 million tonne foodgrains comprising rice, wheat, pulses and coarse cereals.
The record production of foodgrains has been due to the efforts of the farmers who responded positively to various schemes while the country also received near normal rainfall last year, a government official said.
(By Commoditiescontrol Bureau; +91-22-40015533)