Record foodgrain production of 150.50 mt estimated in Kharif season

A record foodgrain production of 150.50 million tonnes (mt) has been estimated in the Kharif season 2021-22. However, the production of oilseeds will lag behind that last year while the production of pulses will increase.

This information was shared in a September 21 press release from the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare on the First Advance Estimates of production of major Kharif crops for 2021-22. As per the press release issued by the Ministry, Union Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said that a record foodgrain production of 150.50 million tonnes (mt) was estimated in the Kharif season.

There has been a bumper production due to the hard work of farmers, proficiency of scientists and farmer-friendly policies of the Government under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, added Tomar.

The release said: “As per First Advance Estimates for 2021-22 (Kharif only), total foodgrain production in the country is estimated at record 150.50 mt, which is higher by 12.71 mt than the average foodgrain production of previous five years (2015-16 to 2019-20).”

The total foodgrain production stood at 149.56 mt during the last Kharif season. This year, the government has set a target to reach 151.43 mt.

Total production of Kharif rice during 2021-22 is estimated at 107.04 mt. It is higher by 9.21 mt than the previous five years’ (2015-16 to 2019-20) average Kharif rice production of 97.83 mt. If compared to last year’s figure of 104.41 mt, however, the production is only slightly higher.

The production of Kharif nutri/coarse cereals is estimated at 34.00 mt, which is higher by 2.11 mt than the average production of 31.89 mt. Maize production is estimated at 21.24 mt.

The total Kharif pulses production during 2021-22 is estimated at 9.45 mt. It is higher by 1.39 mt than the average pulses production of 8.06 mt. This, however, is marginally lower than the target of 9.82 mt though higher than last year’s production figure of 8.69 mt. Among the Kharif pulses, the production of tur (arhar) is estimated at 4.43 mt, marginally higher than 4.28 mt last year.

As for oilseeds, there does not seem to be much good news and edible oil prices may continue to be a problem. The total Kharif production in the country during 2021-22 is estimated at 23.39 mt, which is higher by 2.96 mt than the average oilseeds production of 20.42 mt. But this is lower than the current Kharif target of 26 mt and last year’s production of 24.03 mt. Among the oilseeds, the groundnut production is estimated at 8.25 mt and soyabean at 12.72 mt.

The total production of sugarcane in the country during 2021-22 is estimated at a record 419.25 mt. It is higher by 57.18 mt than the average sugarcane production of 362.07 mt.

Record production has also been estimated for cotton at 36.22 million bales (of 170 kg each) while the production of jute and mesta is estimated at 9.61 million bales (of 180 kg each).