Record Foodgrain Production of 3322.98 LMT Achieved, Driven by Rice, Wheat, and Shree Anna

The Final Estimates of Major Agricultural Crop Production for 2023–2024 have been released by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare. The majority of the information used to create these estimates came from States and UTs. With data from remote sensing, the Weekly Crop Weather Watch Group, and other organizations, the crop area has been verified and triangulated. Estimates of crop yields are mostly derived from Crop Cutting Experiments (CCEs) carried out around the country.

The Digital General Crop Estimation Survey (DGCES), which was implemented in the major States during the 2023–2024 crop years, has completely redesigned the technique of recording CCEs. The robustness and transparency of the yield estimates have been guaranteed by the new system.

A record 3322.98 LMT of food grains are expected to be produced nationwide in 2023–24, a 26.11 LMT increase over the 3296.87 LMT of food grains produced in 2022–23. The good output of rice, wheat, and Shree Anna contributed to a record increase in foodgrain production.

The projected total production of rice in 2023–2024 is 1378.25 LMT. Compared to the previous year's rice production of 1357.55 LMT, it is higher by 20.70 LMT. The projected wheat production for 2023–2024 is 1132.92 LMT. It is 27.38 LMT more than the wheat output of 1105.54 LMT the year before, while the Shree Anna production is predicted to be 175.72 LMT as opposed to 173.21 LMT the year before.

During 2023-24, there were drought-like conditions in southern states, including Maharashtra and prolonged dry spells during August especially in Rajasthan. The moisture stress from the drought also affected the Rabi season. This mainly impacted the production of pulses, coarse cereals, soybean and cotton, the ministry said in an official release.

The details of the production of various crops are given as under:

Total Foodgrains– 3322.98 LMT (record)

• Rice -1378.25 LMT (record)

• Wheat – 1132.92 LMT (record)

• Nutri/Coarse Cereals – 569.36 LMT

• Maize – 376.65 LMT

• Total Pulses – 242.46 LMT

• Shree Anna– 175.72 LMT

• Tur – 34.17 LMT

• Gram – 110.39 LMT

Total Oilseeds– 396.69 LMT

• Groundnut – 101.80 LMT

• Soybean – 130.62 LMT

• Rapeseed & Mustard – 132.59 LMT (record)

Sugarcane – 4531.58 LMT

Cotton – 325.22 Lakh Bales (170 Kgs. each)

Jute & Mesta – 96.92 Lakh Bales (180 Kgs. each).

The release said that the Final Estimates of production of Major Agricultural Crops for the year 2023-24 have been primarily prepared on the basis of information received from States/UTs.

It said the crop area has been validated with inputs from Remote Sensing, Weekly Crop Weather Watch Group and other agencies. Crop yield estimates are majorly based on Crop Cutting Experiments (CCEs) conducted nationwide. The process of recording CCEs has been re-engineered with the introduction of the Digital General Crop Estimation Survey (DGCES), which was rolled out in major States during the 2023-24 agricultural years. The new system has ensured the transparency and robustness of the yield estimates, the release added.