Grain output to touch new high

New Delhi, May 9: Buoyed by record output of wheat, rice and pulses, foodgrain production in India is estimated to touch an all-time high of 273.38 million tonnes (MT) in the 2016-17 crop year ending next month due to good monsoon.

Rice production is projected to be 109.15 million tonnes (MT), wheat - 97.44 MT and pulses - 22.40 MT in the 2016-17 crop year (July-June), the agriculture ministry said, revising upwards the output figures in its third estimate.

The ministry releases four estimates at different stages of crop growth before the final figures. Now, rabi crops such as wheat are being harvested in full swing.

In the third estimate, foodgrain output is projected to be all-time high at 273.38 MT for this year as against 251.57 MT last year. The previous record was 265.04 MT in 2013-14.

Foodgrain basket comprises of rice, wheat, coarse cereals and pulses.

“As a result of very good rainfall during monsoon 2016 and various policy initiatives taken by the government, the country has witnessed record foodgrain production in the current year,” the ministry said in a statement.

Wheat output has increased to 97.44 MT in 2016-17 from 92.29 MT last year as yields were better in the absence of any weather aberrations.

PULSES OUTPUT has gone up substantially to 22.40 MT in 2016-17 from 16.35 MT last year as the government encouraged farmers to grow pulses in a big way by announcing higher support price