Kharif grain output may match last yr’s 138 mt: Govt

India’s foodgrain production in the current kharif season is expected to remain around last year’s record level of 138.04 million tonnes (mt) on good monsoon, Agriculture Secretary S K Pattanayak said on Monday. “Foodgrain production in kharif season is expected to be around last year’s level. Crop conditions are good and productivity will be higher,” Pattanayak told reporters. Asked about floods in some parts of the country, the secretary said the assessment of damage is being done and according to the information received from states, about 3.8 million hectares of land have been affected. However, Pattanayak said “there is no cause for concern”.