Grain target set at record 298.3 mn tonnes

April 17 2020

The government has set the foodgrain production target at 298.3 million tonnes for the 2020-21 crop year, up 2 per cent from the record output achieved in the current year, banking on forecast of a normal monsoon. Nearly 50 per cent of India’s cultivable farm area is dependent on the monsoon — the lifeline of the country’s rural economy and agriculture sector.

The country’s foodgrain production is estimated at a record 291.95 million tonnes in the 2019-20 crop year (July-June), beating the target of 291 million tonnes. “The IMD has forecast the June-September southwest monsoon rainfall over the country as a whole is likely to be normal.This augurs well for rain-fed kharif crops,” Agriculture Commissioner SK Malhota said.

He said the ministry had set a target of 149.92 million tonnes of foodgrain production in the kharif season and 148.4 million tonnes in the rabi, taking the total grain target to a record 298.3 million tonnes in the 2020-21 crop year. Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said all states would ensure procurement at the block level. — TNS

Normal Monsoon

TARGET 2020-21

Rice output

117.5 million tonnes

Wheat output

106.5 million tonnes

Coarse cereals

48.7 million tonnes

Pulses output

25.6 million tonnes


This news has not been edited by Apni Kheti staff but has been published by various news feeds

Source: The Tribune