Grain Gain: Record Kharif Output Estimated, Bumper Rice And Sugarcane Harvest Likely 

Kharif season agricult,ure production has been estimated at a record 141.59 million tonnes (MT), marginally higher than the targeted 141.2 MT according to the advance estimates of production released by Ministry of Agriculture, reports Business Line.

The increase in production has been attributed to the increase in kharif rice production, which is estimated to be 99.24 MT, 1.75 MT more than the corresponding season last year.

There had been a drastic drop in output of coarse cereals, which is estimated to decline by almost 15 per cent to 11.56 MT. Production in the last kharif season was 13.64 MT. Among coarse cereal crops, bajra is likely to take the maximum hit whose output may drop to 7.77 MT against 9.13 MT.

Maize production is projected to rise 1.2 MT to 21.47 MT, compared with the same period in 2017-18. Pulses production is likely to fall marginally to 9.22 MT from 9.34 MT, mainly because of lower urad and arhar output.

A spurt in soyabean sowing has helped oilseeds production go up by one MT than the previous season’s 21 MT. Soyabean production is projected at 13.5 MT and is more than enough to make up for the estimated 1.2 MT shortfall in groundnut production.

Groundnut yield this kharif season is estimated at 6.3 MT against 7.5 MT produced in the corresponding season last year. Official estimates also indicated yet another sugarcane over-production year with the production expected to be close to 383.9 MT, which is 7 MT more than 376.9 MT harvested in 2017-18.

However, cotton output is estimated to drop by 2.4 million bales (one bale is 170 kg) to 32.48 million bales, necessitating an increase in its market prices. Production of jute and mesta, however, is expected to maintain the same levels at a combined output of 10.17 million bales of 180 kg each.