Rains forecast not a dampener;Govt aims 245mt foodgrain output

NEW DELHI: The government aims to achieve an all-time high of 245 million tonnes (MT) of foodgrain production in 2011-12 crop year, notwithstanding a below normal monsoon forecast by the Met Department.

"Our overall foodgrains production target is 245 MT for the 2011-12 crop year, which is 9 MT higher than the last year's," Agriculture Secretary P K Basu told reporters here.

Foodgrains production is estimated to be at a record 235.88 MT in the 2010-11 crop year (July-June).

Last month, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) had said in its second forecast that South-West monsoon would be below normal at 95 per cent of the Long Period Average (LPA), with margin for error of plus or minus 4 per cent.

Basu said the below normal rains forecast may not affect farm production, noting that the rainfall so far is normal and there is no cause of concern.

"It is a normal feature that out of 600 districts in such a big country, 70-100 districts either get affected by drought or excess rains. We should not be particularly worried about this trend. Of course, subject to normal rains, foodgrains production is expected to rise," Basu explained.

For the 2011-12 crop year, Agriculture Ministry has pegged rice production at 102 MT, wheat at 85 MT, coarse cereals at 41 MT, and pulses at 17 MT -- taking total foodgrains output to 245 MT.

Last year, the country is estimated to have produced 94.11 MT of rice, 84.27 MT of wheat, 40.21 MT of coarse cereals and 17.29 MT of pulses.

Foodgrains are cultivated in kharif (summer) and rabi (winter) season. Sowing of kharif crops like paddy is underway.