Erratic monsoon, floods to hit Kharif production

Kharif foodgrains output, including rice, coarse cereals and pulses, is expected to be lower by 21.07mn tons for 2009-10 as against the final estimates for the previous year. According to reports, the decline has been attributed to drought in 12 states and floods in some others. The first advance estimates put the kharif foodgrains estimates for 2009-10 at 96.63mn tons as against 117.70mn tons in the first advance estimates of 2008-09. According to the first advanced estimates released by the Government, the country's rice output is expected to decline by 15.13mn tons this marketing season from 84.58mn tons in the kharif season last year. Similarly, production of coarse cereals is projected to decline to 22.76mn tons this kharif season from 28.34mn tons a year earlier. Pulses output is estimated to fall to 4.42mn tons from 4.78mn tons during the same period last year. Oilseeds production is likely to decline to 15.23mn tons from 17.88mn tons. Agriculture Minister, Sharad Pawar, said that he expects rabi foodgrains output to be 8.5mn tons higher than last year’s 116.18mn tons.