India Likely to Have Bumper Production of Foodgrains as Condition of Kharif is Good: Agri Minister

Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar on Thursday (5^th September 2019) said that the condition of Kharif or summer-sown crops is good and India is likely to have bumper production of foodgrains this year.

The Minister was speaking on the sidelines of global micro-nutrient summit, which is jointly organised by International Zinc Association (IZA) & Fertilizer Association of India (FAI). With enhanced monsoon rains in the month of August, the sowing area of Kharif crops has improved considerably.

As on 30^th August 2019, rice area stood at 354.84 lakh hectare as compared to 372.42 lakh hectares in the year-ago period. Pulses acreage dropped at 127.99 lakh hectares as against 131.54 lakh hectares, area under coarse cereals was flat at 171.74 lakh hectares and oilseeds acreage was slightly lower at 170.78 lakh hectares as compared to 171.15 lakh hectares last year. In addition, area under cotton was up at 124.9 lakh hectares compared to 117.66 lakh hectares.

The Agriculture Minister asked growers to check soil health of their agriculture field before planting or sowing operations to ensure balance use of fertilisers. Tomar expressed concern over extreme use of chemical fertilisers & pesticides.

He said, “We have distributed soil health cards to around 12 crore farmers on a priority basis & mission mode. But, farmers must go for soil health check before the sowing operations”.  He added that there was a need for awareness campaign to teach and educate cultivators.

Even though the country has become self-sufficient in foodgrains, the minister said there remains a challenge to further boost productivity & production and ensure use of modern technology, right usage of fertilisers, increased focus on research and higher income to farmers.

Tomar highlighted that the Centre has taken various steps that includes fixing of minimum support price at least 1.5 times of production cost, launch of almost Rs 90,000 crore PM-Kisan programme under which Rs 6,000 /year is being provided in 3 equal instalments & a pension scheme for cultivators.