3rd Advance Estimates claim foodgrains production at 227.32 mt

New Delhi, Apr 22 (UNI) In the wake of normal rainfall forecast by weather department, the government today released the Third Advance Estimates of total foodgrains production at 227.32 million tonnes (mt) during 2007-08' up by ten million tonnes, claiming to be an all time record for all crops, as against 217 million tonnes in 2006-07.

As per the estimates for 2007-08, total foodgrains production of 227.32 mt comprising of 95.68 mt of rice, 76.78 mt of wheat, 39.67 mt of coarse cereals and 15.19 mt of pulses.

Production of sugarcane, rapeseed, mustard and oilseeds is expected to be lower in 2007-08 compared to 2006-07.

Releasing the estimates, Secretary, Department of Agriculture and Cooperation Dr P K Mishra, said the latest assessment is based on the feedback from the states and validated with the information available from other sources. The other factors include good weather conditions, normal rainfall, quality seeds and inputs.

The oilseeds production during the year is estimated at 28.21 mt up by 3.92 mt with groundnut estimated at 8.87 mt, soyabean at 9.43 mt and rapeseed and mustard at 6.43 mt down by 1.01 mt. Production of cotton is estimated at 23.19 million bales of 170 kg each while production of sugarcane is pegged at 344.23 mt during 2007-08 which is lower by 11.29 mt compared to 355.52 mt in 2006-07.

Maize production is estimated at 18.54 mt, Tur production at 3.03 mt and Urad at 1.56 mt.

Mr Mishra further informed that as compared to 2006-07, rice production is estimated to be up by about two mt, wheat by about one mt, coarse cereals by about six mt (mainly contributed by maize) and pulses by about one mt during 2007-08. Theoilseeds production is estimaed to increase by about four mt (maibly contributed by groundnut) and cotton by about six lakh bales during 2007-08 compared to 2006-07.

Mr Mishra further said the area under acreage almost remained the same but productivity was higher than before.

UNI BBS JT KP1925