MUMBAI, 28 May (Commoditiescontrol): The Indian government has set a foodgrains production target of 340.40 million tonnes (mt) for the 2024-25 crop year (July-June), with 159.97 mt from the kharif season, 164 mt from the rabi season, and 16.43 mt from the zaid (summer) season, according to a report from BusinessLine.
The Agriculture Ministry, after consultations with the states, has set specific targets for various crops. The total rice production target is set at 136.30 mt, wheat at 115 mt, pulses at 29.90 mt, oilseeds at 44.75 mt, and coarse cereals, including Shree Anna, at 59.20 mt.
Among coarse cereals, the maize production target is 38.85 mt and barley is 2.25 mt. Shree Anna, which includes jowar, bajra, ragi, and other millets, has a target of 18.10 mt, with 14.37 mt expected from the kharif season, 2.6 mt from rabi, and 1.13 mt from zaid.
For pulses, the targets include 4.50 mt for tur, 3.05 mt for urad, 4.25 mt for moong, 13.65 mt for chana, and 1.65 mt for masur. The government aims to produce 9.5 mt of pulses from kharif and 18.15 mt from rabi.
Oilseeds production is targeted at 28.37 mt from the kharif season, 15.03 mt from rabi, and 1.35 mt from zaid. Within oilseeds, the government targets include 13.8 mt of mustard (a rabi crop), 10.65 mt of groundnut, and 15.8 mt of soybean.
The cotton production target is set at 35 million bales of 170 kg each, while jute and mesta output is targeted at 10.50 million bales of 180 kg each. The government also aims for a sugarcane production of 470 mt.
Achieving these targets is heavily dependent on monsoon rainfall, which accounts for 75% of the country's annual rainfall of 116 cm. About 45% of agricultural land in India is rainfed, making the distribution and timing of monsoon rains critical.
For the 2023-24 crop year, the actual rice production was 123.82 mt, excluding the yet-to-be-announced zaid season output. In the 2022-23 crop year, the zaid rice production was 10.24 mt. Wheat production is estimated at a record 112.02 mt, while maize output is estimated at 32.47 mt, excluding summer crops. The 2022-23 summer maize output was 2.72 mt.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) announced that the monsoon will hit the Kerala coast on May 31, a day earlier than usual. IMD has predicted above-normal rainfall for this year, with an expected 106% of the long period average (LPA) of 87 cm, with a model error of (+/-) 5% during the June-September season. Rainfall between 105-110% of LPA is considered "above normal," while 96-104% is "normal."
Last year, despite overall monsoon rainfall being close to normal at 94% of LPA, several states like Karnataka, Kerala, and Maharashtra experienced drought-like conditions.
This ambitious target reflects the government's efforts to ensure food security and meet the demands of its growing population.
(By Commoditiescontrol Bureau; +91 98201 3018)
0 Comments 
Post Comment 
