Foodgrain production sees a new ‘high’ reveals data from Ministry

New Delhi, May 10 (KNN) The Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers Welfare released the 3^rd Advance Estimates of production for major crops including rice, wheat, cereals and pulses.

According to the data, the food grain production for the year 2016-17 is 273.38 million tonnes, setting a new record in the volume of food grains produced in the country.

The Ministry termed the figures as ‘record’ as it expects an increased output from rice, maize, pulses, toor dal (pigeon pea), urad dal (split black gram), wheat and coarse cereals.  The estimate for this year is almost 3.15 per cent more than the estimates in the previous years. The expected output previously was 265 million tonnes, while it has gone up to 273.38 million tonnes for this year. 

Rice production is higher by 2.5 million and is estimated at 109.15 million in this year’s report. Also wheat production is estimated at 97.44 million tonnes.

Cotton production is estimated at 32.58 million bales (of 170 kg).

While these crops are expected to yield high production, production of sugar cane, jute and Mesta is expected to decline this year.

According to the Ministry, successful monsoon is the main reason behind the new record figures. Also the government’s initiatives to facilitate crop production has contributed highly towards the growth in the sector, the release from the Ministry said. (With inputs from PIB)