Govt expects all-time high foodgrain production this year

New Delhi, Jan 15. Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar today said the country's foodgrain production this year is likely to surpass the previous record of 259.29 million tonnes achieved in the 2011-12 crop year. "I am confident that when we get second advance estimate in February, we will be approaching towards all-time record foodgrain production," Pawar said addressing the 85th annual general meeting of ICAR. He said the data regarding sowing of rabi (winter) crops like wheat is very encouraging. The country had a record foodgrain production of 259.29 million tonnes in 2011-12 crop year (July-June). However, the output fell marginally to 255.36 million tonnes in the next year due to drought in some parts. This year, good monsoon has improved sowing of both kharif (summer) and rabi (winter) crops, thereby boosting prospects of record foodgrains production. Pawar said timely arrival and uniform spread of monsoon during the kharif season of 2013 augured well for the agriculture sector. "Against the backdrop of serious criticism of stagnated growth in Indian economy, the agriculture sector has achieved near-target growth in the second quarter of this fiscal in spite of several challenges," he said. The growth rate in the agriculture and allied sector has improved to 4.6 per cent during the July-September period of the 2013-14 fiscal from 2.4 per cent in the first quarter. Expressing concern over continuous dependence on import of pulses and edible oils, the Agriculture Minister called for more research efforts to boost the productivity and production of these commodities. The country is expected to harvest a record 19 million tonnes of pulses this year, but still short of estimated demand, he added. India imports around 3.5 million tonnes of pulses and over 10 million tonnes of vegetable oils annually to meet domestic shortages. Emphasising that the real test of agriculture lies in ensuring well-being of farmers, Pawar said, "There is an urgent need to enter into partnership with farmers for successful transmission of research conducted by Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) into fields." He asked ICAR to draw its research focus on increasing feed and fodder supply in the country besides introducing farm machineries to address the growing labour shortages. Highlighting the achievements of government research body ICAR, Pawar said, "The efforts of scientists in developing high yielding, input efficient, disease tolerant varieties along with their widespread adoption by farmers are visible in increasing farm productivity, quality and quantity." Apart from foodgrain, fruits, vegetables, milk and fish production has risen over the years, boosting the country's total farm exports by 11 per cent to Rs 2,01,000 crore in 2012-13 from Rs 1,78,800 crore in 2012-13, he added. ICAR released 104 new improved varieties and hybrids of different field and horticultural crops with potential for higher yields in 2013. The premium institute also produced 11,835 tonnes of breeder seeds of major food crops. Since the climate variability is a major concern now, the ICAR is focusing both on strategic research and on-farm adaptation to climate variability, Pawar added.