Third Advance Estimates Show Total Foodgrain Production at 3288.52 LMT

Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare has released the Third Advance Estimates of Major Agricultural Crops for the year 2023-24. This year, the summer season has been separated from the Rabi season and included in the Third Advance Estimates, which now encompass Kharif, Rabi, and summer seasons.

The total foodgrain production is estimated at 3288.52 LMT. This includes Rice at 1367.00 LMT, Wheat at 1129.25 LMT, Maize at 356.73 LMT, Shree Anna at 174.08 LMT, Tur at 33.85 LMT, and Gram at 115.76 LMT. Total oilseed production is estimated at 395.93 LMT, with Soybean at 130.54 LMT and Rapeseed & Mustard at 131.61 LMT. Sugarcane production is estimated at 4425.22 LMT, Cotton at 325.22 lakh bales (170 kg each), and Jute at 92.59 lakh bales (180 kg each).

Foodgrain production is slightly lower than the previous year but higher by 211.00 LMT compared to the average of the last five years (2018-19 to 2022-23) at 3077.52 LMT. Rice production has increased by 9.45 LMT from the previous year's 1357.55 LMT. Wheat production is higher by 23.71 LMT from last year's 1129.25 LMT. Shree Anna production shows a marginal increase of 0.87 LMT, reaching 174.08 LMT. Nutri/Coarse Cereals production is estimated at 547.34 LMT, up by 46.24 LMT from the five-year average.

The estimates are primarily based on data from State Agricultural Statistics Authorities (SASAs), validated with information from remote sensing, the Weekly Crop Weather Watch Group, and other agencies. Climatic conditions, historical trends, price movements, and mandi arrivals were also considered in preparing the estimates.

Tur production is slightly higher by 0.73 LMT, reaching 33.85 LMT compared to last year's 33.12 LMT. Lentil production increased by 1.95 LMT, reaching 17.54 LMT compared to 15.59 LMT last year. Soybean production is estimated at 130.54 LMT, while Rapeseed & Mustard production is higher by 5.18 LMT compared to the previous year, reaching 131.61 LMT. Cotton production is estimated at 325.22 lakh bales, and sugarcane production at 4425.22 LMT.

The Kharif crop production estimates consider yield data from Crop Cutting Experiments (CCEs). The process of recording CCEs has been re-engineered with the implementation of the Digital General Crop Estimation Survey (DGCES), rolled out in 16 states during the Rabi season.

The DGCES yield results have been predominantly used for Rabi crop production estimates. Summer crop production estimates are based on the average yields of the last three years.