25 February 2021, New Delhi, IN: India´s wheat production in the coming rabi harvest is expected to be a record 109.24 million tonnes, up 1.27 per cent from last year.
It is also much higher than the average production of the last five years of 100.42 million tonnes, the second advance estimate of foodgrains production for July 2020June 2021 crop year showed.
Production of chana (gram), meanwhile, according to the second estimate, is expected to be 11.62 million tonnes, up from 11.08 million tonnes last year. It is much higher than the last fiveyear average production of 9.77 million tonnes.
Mustard output, which is another key rabi crop is expected to be 10.43 million tonnes during the coming season.
This is almost 1.30 million tonnes more than the previous year and much higher than the average production of the last five years (estimated to be 8.30 million tonnes).
The bumper wheat harvest in the rabi season, coupled with strong production of other crops in the kharif season, is expected to push up India´s overall foodgrains production in the 202021 season to a record 303.34 million tonnes, up from 297.50 million tonnes last year.
The average foodgrains production in the last five years (from 201516 crop year to 201920 crop year) was 278.88 million tonnes.
Good monsoon, along with favourable weather, is set to aid the rise in production of major crops.
However, the output increase could cause a serious stress on domestic market prices of some crops like chana and mustard in the coming months.
This will happen unless there is a strong government intervention through procurement at minimum support price (MSP) to stablise them.
In case of chana, sources said the industry feels that unless the Centre buys over 1.51.7 million tonnes of chana (gram), prices will struggle to breach the MSP mark of ₹ 5,100 per quintal.
In the full 202021 crop year, total production of pulses is expected to be 24.42 million tonnes, which is more than last year´s production of 23.03 million tonnes.
It is also higher than the average production of the last five years, estimated at 21.99 million tonnes.
Similarly, in case of all oilseeds, total production in the full 202021 season is estimated to be 37.31 million tonnes.
This is up from last year´s production of 33.22 million tonnes and higher than last fiveyear average production of 30.55 million tonnes.
Sugarcane production in 202021 is expected to be 397.66 million tonnes, around 27.16 million tonnes more than 201920.
Cotton production is estimated at 36.54 million bales, around 0.48 million bales more than last year (one bale equals to 170 kg).
Meanwhile, in 2020, the Southwest monsoon was 9 per cent above average.
This made it the second consecutive year of rainfall being more than normal, a feat which has happened for the first time in almost 60 years.
The last time India saw two consecutive years of more than average rainfall nationally was in 1958 and 1959.
In 2020, the Southwest monsoon was more than normal in almost all parts of the country except Northwest India, which comprises major grain producing areas such as UP, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh and the National Capital Region.
Out of 685 districts in the country, monsoon was normal in almost 75 per cent of them, while it was deficient and below normal in the rest.
Foodgrain production is expected to rise 2% in 202021 season to record 303.34 mt, says govt
The Centre on Wednesday said it has transferred over ₹ 1.15 trillion directly to bank accounts of more than 107.5 million farmers under the PMKisan scheme and asked states to ensure that all eligible beneficiaries are covered in this flagship programme.
Addressing a function on the occasion of the second anniversary of the PM Kisan, Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar (pictured) said the government has enhanced the income of farmers by providing ₹ 6,000 annually to farmers under this scheme in three equal instalments.
The scheme was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 24, 2019, from Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh.
Separately, Modi tweeted about the anniversary that his government ushered a historic increase in the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for crops and was doing everything possible to double the income of farmers.
He also said that over the last seven years, the government has taken many initiatives for transforming agriculture.
From better irrigation to more technology, more credit and markets to proper crop insurance, focus on soil health to eliminating middlemen, the efforts are all encompassing, he asserted.
Ready to talk with farmers
The government is ready to resume talks with protesting farmers if they respond to its offer to put the three contentious farm laws on hold for one and a half year and work out the difference during that time through a joint committee, Tomar said. PTI
₹ 1.15 trn transferred to 107.5 mn farmers under PM Kisan: Tomar on 2nd anniversary of scheme Crops (mt) 202021 201920 % change
Wheat 109.24 107.89 1.25
Chana 11.62 11.08 4.87
Total foodgrain 303.34 297.5 1.96
Mustard 10.43 9.12 14.36
Total pulses 24.42 23.03 6.04
Total oilseeds 37.31 33.22 12.31
Note: 202021 production is in line with second Advanced Estimate and 201920 The crop season runs from July to June Source: Government of India
