Higher acreage to boost wheat and pulses production

NEW DELHI: Wheat and pulses production is expected to be higher in the coming year as area under the two crops has registered a significant jump.

Wheat acreage has increased by 1.04 million hectares (mha) over the year-ago period taking it to 27.5 mha, according to government data released on Friday. Area under pulses has grown by 1 mha to 13.9 mha.

Area under oilseeds has also registered a rise, although marginally, to 8.6 mha as compared with 8.3 mha in the same period last year. Higher output will help cool food inflation, which touched a 10-week high of 14.44% in the week to December 18.

Encouraged by an increase in acreage and good monsoon in 2010, the government has fixed a target of record 82 million tonnes of wheat out-put in the current rabi season.

The data, however, showed a drop in rice acreage to 3.6 lakh ha during the current rabi season as against 5.7 lakh ha in the same period last year. About 12 million tonnes of rice is produced in the country every winter.

Observers said this could result in a hike in open market prices of rice across varieties. They say rice prices could firm up despite ample stocks with the government and a ban on exports of non-basmati rice.

Area under coarse cereals has also declined to 5.07 mha from 6.1 mha in the year-ago period.