Agri Ministry Revises Wheat Production Estimate Downwards To 105 Mn Tonnes For 2021-22

The government has lowered its estimate for wheat production by 5.7 percent to 105 million tonnes in the 2021-22 crop year, ending in June, from a previous figure of 111.32 million tonnes, citing lower crop yield as a factor. This year’s crop productivity has been affected due to the early onset of summer.

Food Secretary Sudhanshu Pandey stated at a press conference that the agriculture ministry has lowered the wheat production estimate for the 2021-22 crop year down to 105 million tonnes from 111.3 million tonnes previously.

In the crop year (July-June) 2020-21, India produced 109.59 million tonnes of wheat.

The "early summer" has been blamed for the lower estimates. Pandey, on the other hand, believes that restricting wheat exports is unnecessary.

Due to several factors, including higher market prices of wheat in some states compared to the minimum support price (MSP), stocks being held by farmers and traders in anticipation of further price rises, and lower production than estimated in some states, the government's wheat procurement is expected to fall to 19.5 million tonnes in the 2022-23 marketing year (April-March), much lower than last year.

As part of its attempts to alleviate people's suffering during the coronavirus pandemic, the Centre has established the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY), which would distribute free foodgrains to over 80 crore individuals covered by the National Food Security Act.

The Centre gives 5 kilos of food grains per individual every month for free under the scheme. The additional free grain is in addition to the NFSA's standard allotment, which is distributed at a heavily reduced rate of Rs 2-3 per kg.