Maharashtra grain output may fall by 28%

PUNE: Grain production in drought-hit Maharashtra is likely to decline by 28%, according to the first advance estimate for the state. Production of soya bean, cotton and sugarcane in the second-largest producer of cash crops is likely to decrease substantially.

The first advance estimate for the country is expected to be announced in the next fortnight and the drought-hit states are likely to drag down the all-India production estimates. A sharp fall in productivity and a decline in acreage are the main reasons for the drop in total production.

Maharashtra’s cereal production is expected to go down by 30% from 70.70 lakh tonne last year to 49.34 lakh tonne in 2012-13 . The major decline is likely to take place in bajra (59%), kharif jowar (32%) and maize (52%). Cereal acreage has come down 10% while productivity is expected to decrease by 23% over previous year. Production of pulses is also expected to go down by 20% with a major decline expected in moong and urad.

Though the area under soya bean increased by 5% over the previous year, output is likely to come down from 40.25 lakh tonne last year to 35.08 lakh tonne in the current year.

Unlike other crops, soya bean production is likely to be affected by excess rainfall.“Excessive rainfall affected plant growth in some pockets in Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh which may result in less productivity in these pockets, ” said Rajesh Aggarwal , spokesperson, Soyabean Processors’ Association of India.