Kharif rice output projected to drop to 92.32 million tonnes: Government

Country's rice production is projected to drop to 92.32 million tonnes in the Kharif season this year due to deficient rains in some states, but the overall foodgrain output is estimated to rise marginally to 129.32 million tonnes in the same period.

The rice production stood at 92.76 million tonnes in the kharif (summer) season of the 2012-13 crop year (June-July), while total foodgrain output was estimated at 128.20 million tonnes. "As per the first advance estimate for kharif season of 2013-14, rice production is estimated at 92.32 million tonnes in the kharif season of this year," Agriculture Commissioner J S Sandhu said at the national conference on rabi (winter) crops).

The estimate for rice output is kept lower as deficient rains in Bihar, Jharkhand and North East have affected the kharif crops, he said. Also, the flood situations in Assam, Bihar, eastern Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal have an impact on the kharif crops, he added.

Sandhu said, however, maize production is projected to increase to 17.78 million tonnes in the kharif season of this year, against 16.04 million tonnes in the year-ago period. Pulses production is also estimated to rise to 6.01 million tonnes from 5.91 million tonnes in the review period. Whereas millet production is forecast at 13.21 million tonnes in the kharif season of this year, he said. Sowing of kharif crops begin with the onset of southwest monsoon from June, while harvesting starts from October.

According to Indian Meteorological Department, the 53% of the country received normal monsoon. One-third of the country received excess rains. Monsoon has withdrawn from western and northern regions of the country. Early withdrawal of monsoon has created heat stress in central parts of the country, Sandhu added. The Agriculture Ministry releases production estimates at different stages of crop.