Government aims for new record output from winter-sown crops

NEW DELHI: The government is likely to revise foodgrains production target for 2020-21 to a record 301 million tonnes from 298.3 million tonnes fixed earlier in April before beginning of the current crop season.

In 2019-20, total foodgrains production is estimated to have been around 296.65 million tonnes.

“This is for the first time we expect foodgrains output to cross 300 million mark. This is primarily due to good monsoon and healthy water storage in key reservoirs which will ensure uninterrupted irrigation for winter crops. We expect foodgrains production in kharif to be 149.35 million tonnes while that in Rabi to be 151.65 million tonnes,” said a senior agriculture ministry official.


He said the agriculture ministry was likely to discuss plans with states to achieve a record food grains production at Rabi conference scheduled on September 21.

Discussions will be focused on current status of Kharif crops, availability of fertiliser for Rabi season and finding means to enhance oilseeds production.

“We expect rice output be be around 119 million tonnes while production of wheat is likely to be around 108 million tonnes,” he said.

The focus of government is to enhance the production and productivity of pulses and oilseeds. “We expect pulses output to be 25.6 million tonnes - just enough to meet our annual requirements. The production of oilseeds is likely to touch 37 million tonnes,” he said.

Production of coarse cereals and cotton is likely to be 47.8 million tonnes and 36 million bales respectively. The production of sugarcane is estimated to be around 390 million tonnes as against 355.7 million tonnes estimated in 2019-20.

Name of crop	Production target for 2020-21	Fourth advance estimate 2019-20th advance estimate 2019-20
Rice	119.6	118.43
Wheat	108	107.59
Pulses	25.60	23.15
Coarse cereals	47.80	47.48
Total foodgrains	301	296.95

Quantity in million tonnes
Source: Agriculture ministry