Govt pegs 2.77% fall in kharif foodgrain output at 134.67 mt

NEW DELHI: India’s foodgrain production is estimated to decline by 3.86 million tonnes to 134.67 mt this kharif season on account of poor rains as well as floods in some parts of the country.

According to the first advance estimate released on Monday by the agriculture ministry, production of all kharif foodgrains -- rice, pulses and coarse cereals -- is projected to decline from the record 138.52 mt last kharif.

In cash crops, production of cotton, oil seeds and jute is estimated to fall and that of sugarcane to go up.

Harvesting will start from next month.

As per the latest data, rice output is likely to fall by 1.9 million tonnes (mt) to 94.48 mt in kharif season this year, from the record 96.39 mt in the previous kharif.

Pulse output could drop to 8.71 mt, from the record 9.42 mt, due to depressed prices and poor rains.

The production of tur is estimated to be lower at 3.99 mt from 4.78 mt while urad output may rise to 2.53 mt from 2.17 mt in the last kharif season.

Coarse cereal output is also seen lower at 31.49 mt, against 32.71 mt in the goneby kharif season. Maize output is pegged at 18.73 mt this kharif as against 19.24 mt a year ago.

Oilseed output is estimated to be down at 20.68 mt in the kharif season of this year compared to 22.40 mt in the yearago period. Soyabean output has been pegged at 12.22 mt as against 13.79 mt last kharif.

Among cash crops, cotton output is estimated to be slightly lower at 32.27 million bales (of 170 kg each) in the 2017-18 crop year (July-june) from the earlier 33.09 million bales.

However, sugarcane output might rise to 337.69 mt, from 306.72 mt before.

Production of jute and mesta is estimated to decline to 10.33 million bales (of 180 kg each), from 10.60 million bales last year.

The fall in kharif output is attributed to dry spell as well as floods in some parts of the country.

The overall South-west Monsoon, crucial for rain-fed kharif crops, was projected normal, but till the first week of this month, it was less by 5 per cent. Assam, Bihar, Gujarat and Rajasthan witnessed floods while parts of Karnataka, Chhattisgarh and Tamil Nadu faced a dry spell.

The kharif output estimates might be revised later taking feedback from states. The ministry releases four estimates before the final one at different stages of harvesting. NEW DELHI: In an attempt to bring all states on board to expedite the projects of urban development, the Centre is planning to hold a brainstorming session with all stakeholders for drafting an exclusive Urban Policy.

According to a senior official, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has been tasked to organise the conclave, which is likely to be held in December.

“The purpose of organising the conclave is to discuss in detail all the issues of urban development with states. Their challenges in the implementation of different developmental projects,” the official said.

As there is no dedicated policy to monitor the projects under the ambit of Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, the government at the Centre faces many challenges in keeping a tab on the ongoing projects.

There are several projects that are being implemented by the Union Urban Development Ministry, but when we try to take stock of all those projects, poor response from the states defeats the purpose.

“As almost every project related to the development of urban township is funded by the Centre, a policy for it would help in deciding the working pattern,” the official said.

“It’s anticipated that after some 30 years, the urban population would be more than the rural population. In the changed demographic scenario, all stakeholders would need the policy to regulate the affairs of urban development,” the official said.

Outlining about the proposed conclave, the official said, “At the proposed meet, the government would try to bring all stakeholders on board to prepare the draft of the Urban Policy. The preparations are on to send letters to states for their participation.”

The official further said, “At the conclave, the Centre would also discuss with all stakeholders about the challenges that they face in the implementation of projects of urban development such as Housing for All, Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, Smart Cities, Metro projects, etc. At conclave, the government would also try to address every possible issue that would be raised by states.”

The move is being initiated by Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on the direction of Prime Minister.

In India out of the total population of 1210.2 million, about 377.1 million are in urban areas.

The net addition of population in urban areas over the last decade is 91.0 million.