FY15 foodgrains production estimated to fall by 3% due to erratic rain

New Delhi: India’s foodgrains production is estimated to fall by three percent to 257.07 million tonnes in 2014-15 crop year on expected decline in output of rice, coarse cereals and pulses due to erratic rain.  Wheat production is projected to drop slightly to 95.76 million tonnes in 2014-15 crop year (July-June) from 95.85 million tonnes in the previous year, the Agriculture Ministry said in a statement while releasing the second estimates. Production of rice, a major kharif crop, is estimated to fall by 3.61 million tonnes to 103.04 million tonnes this year from last year’s record of 106.65 million tonnes. “As per Second Advance Estimates for 2014-15, total foodgrains production in the country is estimated at 257.07 million tonnes (MT) which is the fourth highest quantity of annual foodgrains production in the country,” it said. The estimate is lower by 8.50 million tonnes than the record 265.57 million tonnes achieved in the 2013-14. “This decline has occurred on account of lower production of rice, coarse cereals and pulses due to erratic rainfall conditions during monsoon season in 2014,” the ministry said. “It may be noted that despite deficiency of 12 percent in monsoon rainfall during the year, due to proactive measures of the Agriculture Ministry, the loss in production has been restricted to just around 3 percent over the previous year and has exceeded the average production during the last five years by 8.15 million tonnes,” it added. According to the estimates, coarse cereals production is expected to decline by 3.46 million tonnes to 39.83 million tonnes this year, while that of pulses is likely to fall by 1.35 million tonnes to 18.43 million tonnes. Foodgrains basket comprise rice, wheat, coarse cereals and pulses. Oilseeds output is expected to decline by 2.92 million tonnes to 29.83 million tonnes in the 2014-15. Sugarcane production is pegged at 354.95 million tonnes, cotton at 35.15 million bales of 170 kg each and jute at 11.47 million bales of 180 kg each. It may be noted that Central Statistical Organisation had recently pegged agriculture and allied sectors’ growth at 1.1 percent this fiscal, down from 3.7 percent in the previous year. Although agriculture contributes only about 13-14 percent to the country’s GDP, about 50 percent of the population is dependent on the farm sector. PTI