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Decline in foodgrains output likely

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI FEB. 11. There is likely to be a decline of 13.61 per cent in the foodgrains output in 2002-03, the lowest in seven years.

As per the second official advance estimates, foodgrains production this year is estimated at 183.17 million tonnes against a record production of 212.02 million tonnes last year.

For the first time in many years, rabi output is marginally higher than the quantity produced in the kharif season, on account of drought.

The fall in rice and wheat production is estimated at 16.5 per cent and 4.07 per cent respectively to 77.72 and 68.89 million tonnes from 93.08 and 71.81 million tonnes.

The official data shows a decline of 19.09 and 5.05 per cent in kharif and rabi grain output to 90.26 million tonnes and 92.91 million tonnes from 111.55 and 100.47 million tonnes.

The output of wheat has fallen to 68.89 million tonnes from 71.89 million tonnes mainly due to a fall in acreage and yields, official sources said.

The major decline in rice production is in the kharif season — from 15.48 per cent to 67.41 million tonnes from 79 million tonnes.

Even in the rabi, the output had declined to 10.31 million tonnes from 13.32 million tonnes which in fact is a shortfall of 22.6 per cent.

The projected fall in pulses in which India is deficient is 13.12 per cent to 13.19 million tonnes from 11.46 million tonnes.

In the rabi, pulses production is expected to fall to 7.47 million tonnes from 8.32 million tonnes.

Sugarcane production is pegged at 285.3 million tonnes, 4.91 per cent lower than last year's record 300 million tonnes.

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