New Delhi: Pulses production fell by 4 percent to 16.47 million tonnes in the 2015-16 crop year due to drought in many states but the country's total foodgrains output rose marginally to 252.22 million tonnes on the back of bumper wheat crop.
India's foodgrains production stood at 252.02 million tonnes in the 2014-15 crop year (July-June). According to the fourth advance estimate of foodgrains production for 2015-16 released today, the output of rice, coarse cereals and pulses have fallen while that of wheat has risen compared to the previous year.
Production of pulses has been revised downwards to 16.47 million tonnes from 17.06 million tonnes in the third advance estimate released in May. Pulses output stood at 17.15 million tonnes in the 2014-15 crop year. Retail prices of pulses have risen sharply due to lower production in last two crop years compared to record 19.25 million tonnes in the 2013-14 crop year. The downward revision may put further pressure on domestic prices.
As per the data, rice output is estimated to decline to 104.32 million tonnes during 2015-16 crop year from 105.48 million tonnes in the previous year. Rice production has been revised upwards from 103.36 million tonnes in the third advance estimate.
Wheat production has been revised downward to 93.5 million tonnes from 94.04 million tonnes in May estimate, but still it is much higher than 86.53 million tonnes in 2014-15.
Coarse cereals production is estimated to have declined to 37.94 million tonnes in 2015-16 from 42.86 million tonnes in the previous year. The country faced two consecutive drought due to poor monsoon in 2014 and 2015 calendar year.
"Despite setback due to deficient rainfall and due to shortage of water in reservoirs, as per the 4th Advance Estimates for 2015-16, the total foodgrains production in the country has been higher than that in the last year,” an official statement said.
In non-foodgrains category, production of oilseeds, sugarcane, cotton and jute are estimated to decline during the current 2015-16 crop year.
Oilseeds output is pegged at 25.30 million tonnes against 27.51 million tonnes, while sugarcane output is estimated at 352.16 million tonnes against 362.3 million tonnes.
Cotton output is estimated to decline to 30.14 million bales (of 170 kg each) in 2015-16 from 34.80 million bales last year, while jute output is seen lower at 10.46 million bales (of 180 kg each) from 11.12 million bales in the said period. India had achieved a record foodgrain production of 265.04 million tonnes in the 2013-14 crop year.
