National targets for food grains at 3280, pulses 295.5 and oilseeds 413.4 lt for 2022-23

Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar inaugurated the National Conference on Agriculture for Kharif Campaign 2022-23 in New Delhi on April 19.

The Conference set national targets for total foodgrain production at 3280 lakh tonnes (lt) for the year 2022-23 compared to the expected production of 3160 lt during 2021-2.2 The target for production of pulses has been fixed at 295.5 lt and 413.4 lt respectively in 2022-23.  Nutri-cereals production has to be increased from 115.3 lt in 2021-22 to 205 lt in 2022-23.

Tomar expressed satisfaction that as per Second Advance Estimates (2021-22), total foodgrain production in the country was estimated at 3160 lt, which would be an all-time record.  The pulses and oilseeds production will be 269.5 lt and 371.5 lt respectively. As per Third Advance Estimates, horticulture production during 2020-21 is 3,310.5 lt, which is the highest ever for Indian horticulture.

The press release issued by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare on April 19 said that the objective of this conference was to review and assess the crop performance during the preceding crop seasons and fix crop-wise targets for the Kharif season in consultation with State Governments, ensure supply of critical inputs and facilitate the adoption of innovative technologies with a view to enhancing production and productivity of the crops. The priority of the government is agroecological crop planning for the diversion of land from excess commodities like rice and wheat to deficit commodities like oilseeds and pulses and high-value export-earning crops. The Government is giving high priority to crop diversification with a focus on self-sufficiency in oilseeds and pulses and the promotion of oil palm. Consultations with all stakeholders like major states, researchers, industries and policymakers have been held to finalize a National Policy Framework for Crop Diversification Programme in the country.

Tomar stated that the Centre and States would work together to ensure pesticide and seeds availability to reduce input costs for farmers. He urged that there should be a strategy to replace urea with nano-urea. He declared that the government would continue to lay emphasis on natural and organic farming. On exports, the Minister said that while agriculture exports had increased, attention should be paid to quality products so that they can compete in international markets. Exporters and farmers both should benefit.

Manoj Ahuja, Secretary, Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, said that the country had been maintaining an increasing trend in foodgrain production since 2015-16. Total foodgrain production has increased by 25 per cent in the last 6 years from 251.54 million tonnes (mt) to 316.01 mt. Oilseeds have followed the same trend and have shown a growth of 42per cent from 25.25 mt in 2015-16 to 37.15 mt in 2021-22. India’s exports of agricultural products have grown by 19.92 per cent during 2021-22 to touch $50.21bn (Rs 3,76,575 crore). Commodities like wheat, other cereals, rice (other than Basmati), soya meal, raw cotton, fresh vegetable, and processed vegetables etc have registered the most positive growths.

He said, “Action Plan for three years’ Seed Rolling Plan (2021-22 to 2023-24) for all oilseeds  with an allocation of Rs 381.95 crore will produce a total of 14.7 lakh quintals of quality seeds of new high-yielding varieties (HYVs) in next three years.”

Making a detailed presentation on the strategies for crop management in the Kharif season, Dr AK Singh, Agriculture Commissioner, said that the country had recorded all-time high foodgrain, oilseed and horticultural production due to timely interventions of the government. Now, special focus is given to oilseeds, pulses and nutri-cereals.

The Secretary (Fertilizers) deliberated on the positioning of fertilizer supply for the forthcoming season. The Additional Secretary (Agriculture) and senior officers from DA&FW, ICAR and officers of different State Governments participated in the National Conference.