New Delhi: The government has set a target to achieve a record foodgrains production of 270.10 million tonnes in 2016-17 crop year on hopes of bountiful rains after two consecutive drought years.
The country had last achieved a record output of 265.04 million tonnes (MT) in 2013-15. However, the production in 2014-15 and 2015-16 fell to 252.02 MT and 253.23 MT, respectively, due to drought in more than ten states.
For this year, the Met Department has forecast better than normal monsoon, the arrival of which in Kerala is expected to be delayed by a week. "We have set an ambitious foodgrains production target at 270.10 MT for the 2016-17 crop year (July-June), which is much higher than the last year's target of 264.10 MT and even the actual output of record 265.04 MT in 2013-14," a senior Agriculture Ministry official told PTI.
Higher target has been kept keeping in view the possibility of good monsoon and impact of several schemes like soil health card and Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bhima Yojana, the official added.
The agri crops are grown in the kharif (summer) and rabi (winter) seasons of the crop year (July-June). The sowing of Kharif season normally begins with the onset of south west monsoon from June.
Harvesting begins from October. Among foodgrains category, the government is aiming record rice output of 108.50 MT, wheat at 96.50 MT, coarse cereals at 44.35 MT and pulses at 20.75 MT in 2016-17.
As per the third advance estimated of the Agriculture Ministry, rice production in 2015-16 is estimated to be down at 103.36 MT, wheat at 94.04 MT, coarse cereals 37.78 MT and pulses at 17.06 MT.
In case of cash crops, the government has not kept much bigger production targets for 2016-17 and is aiming sugarcane output of 355 MT, cotton at 36 million bales (170 kg) and jute/mesta at 11.70 million bales (of 180 kg).
At present, farmers are preparing the fields to start sowing operations with the monsoon arrival. The government has positioned good quality seeds, fertilisers and other farm inputs required for sowing of kharif crops.
