India’s Food Grains Production Down

India’s Food Grains Production Down by 8.15 Million tonnes

India’s food grain production during 2014-15 has estimated to be around 257.07 million tonnes, registering an 8.15 million tonnes drop of food grains output, as per the 2nd Advance Estimates released by the department of agriculture & cooperation, Indian agriculture ministry.

During the same period last year, food grains production was recorded at 265.57 million tonnes.

This decline has occurred on account of lower production of rice, coarse cereals and pulses due to erratic rainfall conditions during the monsoon season-2014, the agriculture ministry said in a statement attributing the negative growth.

The ministry said, it may be noted that despite deficiency of 12 per cent in the monsoon rainfall during the year, due to proactive measures of the agriculture ministry, the loss in production has been restricted to just around 3 per cent over the previous year and has exceeded the average production during the last five years by 8.15 million tonnes.

Total production of rice in the country is estimated at 103.04 million tonnes which is lower by 3.61 million tonnes, as compared to 106.65 million tonnes produced during the same period last year.

Wheat production is also estimated to drop at 95.76 million tonnes, than the record production of 95.85 million tonnes of wheat during 2013-14.

Total production of coarse cereals estimated at 39.83 million tonnes, lower by 3.46 million tonnes than their production during 2013-14. Production of pulses estimated at 18.43 million tonnes is lower by 1.35 million tonnes than the last year’s production but higher by 0.81 million tonnes than their average production during the last five years.

With decrease of 2.92 million tonnes over the last year’s production level, total production of oilseeds in the country is estimated at 29.83 million tonnes, the statement adds.

Production of sugarcane is pegged on the higher side with 17.14 million tonnes at 354.95 million tonnes, as compared to its average production of last five years.

Production of jute & Mesta is estimated at 11.47 million bales (of 180 kg each) which is lower by 0.22 million bales than their last year’s production and marginally higher (0.18 million bales) over their average production levels.

Total production of cotton estimated at 35.15 million bales (of 170 kgs each) is significantly higher (by 2.68 million bales) than the average production of last 5 years.