Agriculture growth declined in Maharashtra: Economic Survey

MUMBAI: The annual economic survey, tabled in the Maharashtra Legislature today ahead of the presentation of State budget for 2013-14 tomorrow, reveals a decline in agriculture growth in the state.

"The agriculture sector growth has declined by 1.4 per cent, the growth of agriculture and allied sectors has declined by 2.1 per cent. The industry sector is expected to grow at 7 per cent, while the services sector is expected to grow by 8.5 per cent," it said.

Production of food grains in 2012-13 is expected to fall by 18 per cent with production of 104.39 lakh tonnes (LT) as against 127.30 LT during the previous year, it said.

The overall production of foodgrains is expected to reduce drastically during the year, it said.

"Due to the low intensity and deficit monsoon in some parts of western Maharashtra, Aurangabad and Nashik divisions, the sowing of major kharif crops was delayed," it said.

"Low moisture conditions and erratic rainfall in September and October has resulted in reduction of area under Rabi crops," the survey said.

The Gross State Domestic Product ( GSDP) at constant (2004-05) prices, as per advanced estimates, is expected to grow by 7.1 per cent during 2012-13, the survey said.

Between August 1991 and March 2012, as many as 4,246 FDI projects amounting to Rs 97,799 crore were approved in the state, of which 45 per cent were commissioned and 10 per cent are under execution, it said.