Hike in Foodgrain Production to 281 million Tonnes in 2018-19

The government on Thursday declared that total food grain production in India is estimated at 281.37 million tonnes during 2018-19 as compared to 277.49 million tonnes in the previous fiscal. 

According to second advance estimates released by the Department of agriculture, the rise is comparatively 15.63 million tonnes than the previous five years' (2013-14 to 2017-18) average production of food grain. Most major crop-producing states witnessed normal monsoon rainfall, hence the production of most crops is higher, the estimates said. 

Rice production is estimated at 115.6 million tonnes, 4.59 million tonnes higher than the production of 111.01 million tonnes in 2017-18. The production of wheat in 2018-19 is estimated at 99.12 million tonnes compared to 97.11 million tonnes in the previous year. 

However, production of nutri/coarse cereals is estimated lower at 42.64 million tonnes compared to 45.42 million tonnes in 2017-18. Total pulses production during 2018-19 is estimated marginally higher at 24.02 million tonnes. 

Oilseeds production is estimated at 31.5 million tonnes, sugarcane production at 380.83 million tonnes, cotton at 30.09 million tonnes and jute & mesta at 10.07 million bales (of 180 kg each). 

Total Pulses production during 2018-19 is estimated at 24.02 million tonnes which is marginally higher by 0.08 million tonnes than the previous year’s 2nd Advance Estimates of 23.95 million tonnes.  However, the production of pulses during 2018-19 is higher by 3.77 million tones than the five years’ average production of 20.26 million tonnes. 

Total production of Sugarcane in the country during 2018-19 is estimated at 380.83 million tonnes with an increase by 27.61 million tonnes over 2017-18 (as per 2nd Advance Estimates), total production of Sugarcane in the country during 2018-19 is estimated at 380.83 million tonnes. Further, the production of sugarcane during 2018-19 is higher by 31.05 million tonnes than the average sugarcane production of 349.78 million tonnes. 

Production of Cotton estimated at 30.09 million bales (of 170 kg each) is lower than the production of 33.92 million bales in 2ndAdvance Estimates of 2017-18.  Production of Jute & Mesta is estimated at 10.07 million bales (of 180 kg each). 

The 2nd Advance Estimates of production of major crops for 2018-19 were released by the Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers Welfare on February 28, 2019. The cumulative rainfall in the country during the monsoon season (June to September 2018) has been 9% lower than Long Period Average (LPA). 

According to a PIB release, the cumulative rainfall in North West India, Central India and South Peninsula during the aforesaid period has been overall normal. Most of the major crops producing states have witnessed normal monsoon rainfall. Accordingly, the production of most of the crops for the agricultural year 2018-19 has been estimated higher than their normal production.