The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare in India has released its second advance estimate of the production of major crops, predicting a record foodgrain production of 3235.54 Lakh Tonnes in the 2022-24 period. This production includes rice, wheat, and maize, as well as pulses such as gram, moong, and winter crop mustard and sugarcane.
The predicted increase in production is attributed to the hard work of farmers and scientists, as well as concerted government policies. Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar has credited the government's efforts towards increasing agricultural productivity and supporting farmers for the expected record production. Mr. Tomar has further stated that there will be a continued increase in the production and use of nutritious grains and coarse grains in the coming years.
The predicted production of rice in this period is estimated to be 1308.37 Lakh Tonnes, which is an increase of more than three lakh tonnes than the target and about 14 lakh tonnes higher than the production in 2021-22. Similarly, the estimated production of wheat is about 1121.82 Lakh Tonnes, a record high compared to last year's production of 1077.42 Lakh Tonnes. The farmers are expecting a better price for wheat this time due to the global situation that emerged after the war in Ukraine.
The Centre also anticipates an increase in the production of nutritious and coarse cereals, with an expected production of 527.26 Lakh Tonnes, an increase of more than 16 Lakh Tonnes from the previous year. The increased production of nutritious grains can provide better nutrition for the population and can contribute towards reducing malnutrition in the country.
In the case of pulses, the Centre expects a record production of 278.10 Lakh Tonnes, an increase of more than five Lakh Tonnes from the previous year. Gram is projected to be the favorite pulse crop of farmers, with an expected record production of 136.32 Lakh Tonnes in this season.
The Centre also envisages a record production of 400.01 Lakh Tonnes of nine oilseeds. This is a significant increase from last year's production of 379.63 Lakh Tonnes. The production of oilseeds has a vital role in ensuring the availability of cooking oil and other essential oils.
Cotton production is expected to reach 337.23 Lakh bales (of 170 kg each), which is less than the target of 370 Lakh Tonnes. In the case of sugarcane, the expectation is 4687.89 Lakh Tonnes, higher than the target of 4150 Lakh Tonnes, and more than the previous year's production of 4394.25 Lakh Tonnes.
The increased production can ensure better food security and nutrition for the population and can contribute towards reducing malnutrition. Additionally, the expected better prices for certain crops, such as wheat, can provide better incomes for farmers, which can further stimulate the economy.
