Kharif oilseeds production up by 15.7% foodgrains by 1.6%

New Delhi, Sep 19 (UNI) Kharif foodgrains production for 2007-08 is expected to touch 112.24 million tonnes (MT), up by 1.6 per cent and oilseeds by 15.7 per cent at 16.13 MT as against the last year's output of 110.52 Mt and 13.94 MT respectively.

The first advance estimates for the current summer crops (Kharif) officially released here today said the rice production will almost be same as last year at 80.15 MT while coarse cereals output is estimated to be higher by 3.5 per cent at 26.58 MT.

Agriculture Secretary P K Mishra told mediapersons that pulses are also pegged to be up by 16.2 per cent at 5.51 MT and maize by 14.3 per cent at 13.07 MT.

A sharp increase of 57.9 per cent in production of groundnut which is estimated at 5.18 MT during the current crop, he added.

However, the hike in production of soyabean will be marginal by 2 per cent at 9.04 MT.

The sugarcane crop is likely to remain unchanged at 345.62 MT with cotton crop showing a marginal increase of 1.1 per cent at 22.94 million bales of 170 kg each.

Mr Mishra pointed out that the output of maize, soyabean, cotton and sugarcane were expected to set new records.

Referring to the total foodgrains production during 2006-07, the Agriculture Secretary said that the country had achieved a record production of 216 million tonnes with cotton touching 22.7 million bales and sugarcane 345 MT.

While concluding the conference, Dr Mishra stressed upon the States to undertake a well coordinated action for successful implementation of the National Food Security Mission and Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana.

These estimates were computed at the two-day marathon National Conference on Agriculture for Rabi Campaign 2007 which was participated by State Agriculture Commissioners, State Agricultural University Vice Chancellors, ICAR Scientists, officials of Agriculture Ministry, NIC Department of Earth Sciences, Space Application Centre and others.

UNI