Date:23/02/2006 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2006/02/23/stories/2006022303651200.htm

Back Foodgrain production seen up at 209.32 mt
Rabi output likely to be tad lower; wheat crop seen below initial estimates

Our Bureau

New Delhi , Feb 22

THE country's total foodgrain production has been projected at 209.32 million tonnes (mt) in 2005-06 (July-June), up 4.71 mt over last year. However, the wheat crop have been affected by bad weather conditions and the Government has pruned its estimated to 73.06 mt, which is lower than the initial official estimate of 75.5 mt.

But, compared with 72 mt produced last year, the output is likely to be higher.

Oilseeds production is expected to hit a high of 26.37 mt. Moreover, maize and soyabean output are expected to be all-time high at 14.99 mt and 7.92 mt respectively during 2005-06, as per the second advance estimates of 2005-06. During 2004-05, oilseeds production was at 26.1 mt, maize was at 14.13 mt and soyabean output was at 7.51 mt.

"The mood appears to be alright this year though weather-wise it was not at all conducive for the crops with excess rainfall, floods, drought, extreme temperature conditions... I am happy that the damage appears to be less than what it could have been," said Ms Radha Singh, Secretary, Department of Agriculture addressing the media, after the deliberations during National Conference for Kharif Campaign 2006.

"Wheat production is likely to be in the range of 73.06 mt, up by 1.06 mt over last year, whereas rice production is expected to be 87.86 mt against last years' production of 85.31 mt," she said stressing that these are initial estimates based on inputs given by the States and "they could move up or down".

Total kharif foodgrain production is expected to be at 108.15 mt in 2005-06 compared with 103.32 mt last year, whereas the rabi production is expected to be at 101.17 mt in 2005-06 against 101.29 mt in 2004-05.

On wheat production getting affected due to weather, she said: "If not for the weather extremities, it could have been even better. We could have even gone up to 75 mt in wheat."

In Madhya Pradesh, for example, wheat was not cultivated in about six lakh hectares due to dry conditions that prevailed on rainfall shortage.

Mustard crop is also expected to witness a slight drop at 7.69 mt compared with 8.36 mt last year. "However, mustard stocks are fairly high within the country, so it's not a cause for concern," she said.

Sugarcane production is expected to go up by 15 per cent touching 266.88 mt against 232.32 mt in 2004-05.

On growth in the sector, Ms Singh said: "Agriculture GDP is estimated to grow by 2.3 per cent during the current year as per the CSO estimates, though all efforts are on by the States to achieve four per cent growth target." She also stated that Bio-Technology Regulatory Authority is being set up shortly to look into the issues pertaining to GM seeds and crops.