Record production of 144.52 million tonnes foodgrains during Kharif 2020-21

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, September 22

Aided by good rains, production of Kharif foodgrains is expected to touch a record 144.5 million tonnes, according to the first advance estimate of crop production released by the Agriculture Ministry.

The estimated production is higher than the 143.4 million tonnes achieved during the Kharif season of 2019-20.

Production of rice is estimated at 102.36 million tonnes, higher by 6.70 million tonnes than the previous five years’ average production of 95.66 million tonnes. Pulses are estimated at 9.3 million tonnes, compared to 7.7 million tonnes last year. Production of coarse grains is estimated to drop by 2.7% to 32.8 million tonnes.

Among non-food crops, oilseeds are estimated at 25.7 million tonnes. Among other Kharif crops, sugarcane production is estimated to increase to 400 million tonnes and cotton production to 37.1 million bales (one bale equals 170 kg).

The cumulative rainfall during this year’s southwest monsoon season up to September 16, 2020 has been 7% 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, says the government.