Foodgrains Production in 2012-13 Likely to Cross 250 Mt:

Foodgrains Production in 2012-13 Likely to Cross 250 Mt: 2nd Time in a Row Pulses Production Likely to Break Earlier Record 2nd Advance Estimates of Crop Production Released

India is likely to produce 250.14 million tonnes of foodgrains during 2012-13 (includes kharif 2012 and rabi crops in the field at present). This, despite a drop of 7 million tonnes in production during kharif, owing to erratic monsoons. As per the second advance estimates of crop production released today by the Agriculture Ministry, production of major crops except pulses is likely to be less than last year, which happened to be the year of record foodgrain production helped by a favourable monsoon. In the present crop year (2012-13), despite deficient and late rainfall in many parts of the country in the monsoon season, the estimated production is higher than the foodgrain production achieved any time before last year, showing the growing resilience of Indian agriculture. A number of initiatives have been taken in recent years to increase production of pulses, including raising MSP of main pulses crops significantly and special schemes to encourage farmers to adopt modern agronomic practices in pulses production.             The assessment of production of different crops is based on the feedback received from States and validated with information available from other sources.             The production estimates for major crops for 2012-13 as compared to final estimates for the previous 5 years are as follows: (million tonnes)                                                 Crop 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 Final Estimates 2nd Advance Estimates Rice 96.69 99.18 89.09 95.98 105.31 101.80 Wheat 78.57 80.68 80.80 86.87 94.88 92.30 Jowar 7.93 7.25 6.70 7.00 6.01 5.26 Bajra 9.97 8.89 6.51 10.37 10.28 8.15 Maize 18.96 19.73 16.72 21.73 21.76 21.06 Coarse Cereals 40.75 40.04 33.55 43.40 42.04 38.47 Tur 3.08 2.27 2.46 2.86 2.65 2.75 Gram 5.75 7.06 7.48 8.22 7.70 8.57 Urad 1.46 1.17 1.24 1.76 1.77 1.74 Moong 1.52 1.03 0.69 1.80 1.63 1.27 Total Pulses 14.76 14.57 14.66 18.24 17.09 17.58 Total Foodgrains 230.78 234.47 218.11 244.49 259.32 250.14 Groundnut 9.18 7.17 5.43 8.26 6.96 5.78 Rapeseed & Mustard    5.83 7.20 6.61 8.18 6.60 7.36 Soyabean 10.97 9.91 9.96 12.74 12.21 12.96 Total Nine Oilseeds 29.76 27.72 24.88 32.48 29.80 29.47 Cotton # 25.88 22.28 24.02 33.00 35.20 33.80 Jute, Mesta # # 11.21 10.37 11.82 10.62 11.40 11.13 Sugarcane 348.19 285.03 292.30 342.38 361.04 334.54 # million bales of 170 kg each ##  million bales of 180 kg each. MP:DS:CP: second advance (8.2.2013)