Kharif production expected to fall further in second estimate

Kharif production of coarse cereals, pulses, oil seeds and cotton are expected to fall in 2018- 19, finds the second estimate of National Bulk Handling Corporation. In its first estimate, NBHC had found that in the year 2018- 19, the production of coarse grains, pulses and cotton are expected to decline by 9.78 per cent, 2.68 per cent and 4.57 per cent over 2017- 18. However, in the assessment, the pulses and oil seed have marginally pushed themselves further in the negative region with an expected decline of 2.68 per cent and 5.36 per cent over the last estimate. Among cereals, rice was least affected by the irregularity in monsoon as it is grown mostly in well irrigated areas. For the year 201819, rice production has expected to decline marginally by 0.73 per cent over last year and decline marginally by 1.91 per cent over last estimate. However, basmati rice production is expected to fall by about 9.24 per cent to 5.18 million metric tonnes. But this short fall is being compensated by the increase in the non- basmati rice. Maize is expected to decline significantly by about 10.41 per cent over last year. The decline in the sowing area in Karnataka and Telangana was the main cause for the decline in production. "Maximum Stress is expected in Maize as the production is expected to decline by over 10 per cent and we can expect an import of about 3- 5 million metric tonnes,” said Hanish Kumar Sinha, Head - Research & Development, National Bulk Handling Corporation ( NBHC). Jowar is expected to decline by 10.59 per cent over last year. However, production of minor cereals, small millets, ragi and bajra is expected to improve. Pulses production is projected to drop marginally to 9.10 million metric tonnes from 9.35 million metric tonnes last year due to the fall in urad output by 10.11 per cent. Urad output was hit as farmers shifted to soybean in some parts of Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. Total oilseeds production is estimated to be 19.87 million metric tonnes, which is 5.36 per cent lower than last year’s production of 21.00 million metric tonnes.