Record foodgrain output likely in 2013-14

New Delhi: Foodgrain production in the country is expected to touch record level this year on the back of expected bumper crop in wheat and rice, Minister of State for Agriculture Tariq Anwar said today. “Going by the information I have received so far, foodgrain production in the country is expected to be all time high in 2013-14,” Anwar said. He was speaking at the sidelines of an seminar on commodity markets organised by the Assocham. [caption id=“attachment_1377591” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Record production of foodgrains. Reuters[/caption] Replying to question, Anwar said,“Wheat output is set to touch record level this year, whereas in case of rice, I am optimistic that there will be a bumper production this year.” India has achieved a record foodgrain production of 259.29 million tonnes in 2011-12. Output fell to 255.36 million tonnes in 2012-13 due to drought n some parts of the country. Good monsoon in 2013 helped farmers increase area under cultivation in both kharif (summer) and rabi (winter) seasons in the current crop year. According to the latest reports, area under wheat cultivation has risen over 6 per cent to an all-time high of 31.5 million hectares so far in the ongoing rabi season. Total area under all rabi crops has increased to 64.28 million hectares so far this rabi season, as against 60.86 million hectares in the year-ago period. Commenting on the encouraging sowing figures, Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar had recently said the country’s total wheat output is expected to cross 100 million tonnes, setting a fresh record for this year. Pawar had also said that overall foodgrain production in 2013-14 crop year (July-June) is likely to break the previous record of 259.29 million tonnes achieved in 2011-12. Meanwhile, Anwar emphasised on the integration of spot markets with future markets. “One of the major challenges faced by the ecosystem of commodity markets is integration of spot market with futures market,” Anwar said. PTI