New Delhi (NVI): With better output of rice, wheat, maize, pulses and coarse cereals due to good monsoon rains last year, the foodgrain production in India is estimated to rise 2 per cent in 2020-21 at record 303.34 million tonnes, the Ministry of Agriculture said today.
“As per Second Advance Estimates for 2020-21, total foodgrain production in the country is estimated at record 303.34 million tonnes which is higher by 5.84 million tonnes than the production of foodgrain of 297.50 million tonnes achieved during 2019-20,” the Agriculture Ministry said.
Further, the production during 2020-21 is higher by 24.47 million tonnes than the previous five years’ (2015-16 to 2019-20) average production of foodgrain, it said.
The cumulative rainfall during this year’s southwest monsoon season upto 30th September, 2020 has been 9% higher than Long Period Average (LPA). Accordingly, most of the major crops producing states have witnessed normal rainfall.
The production of most of the crops for the agricultural year 2020-21 has been estimated higher than their normal production. However, these estimates would undergo revision based on further feedback from the States, as per the Ministry.
Total production of rice during 2020-21 is estimated at record 120.32 million tonnes. It is higher by 7.88 million tonnes than the last five years’ average production of 112.44 million tonnes, the Ministry said.
Production of wheat during 2020-21 is estimated at record 109.24 million tonnes. It is higher by 8.81 million tonnes than the average wheat production of 100.42 million tonnes.
Production of nutri/coarse cereals estimated at 49.36 million tonnes, which is higher by 1.62 million tonnes than the production of 47.75 million tonnes achieved during 2019-20. Further, it is also higher by 5.35 million tonnes than the average production.
Total pulses production during 2020-21 is estimated at 24.42 million tonnes which is higher by 2.43 million tonnes than the last five years’ average production of 21.99 million tonnes.
“The second advance estimates of production of principal crops for year 2020-21 have been released. The second advance estimates of production of major crops reveal a record production of 303.34 million tonnes of food grains, which clearly outlines the tireless hard work of farmers, research by agricultural scientists, and farmer-friendly policies of the Central Government. All-round agricultural reforms will also benefit the country in the long run,” Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar was quoted as saying by the Ministry.
-ARK
