New Delhi, April 25 (IANS) In the backdrop of prediction of a normal monsoon this year and buoyed with the bumper production in last two years, the government on Wednesday said the total food production in 2018-19 will be a record 283.7 million tonnes, including 113 million tonnes of rice.
Addressing officials from the states during annual kharif conference here, Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh said the good monsoon has indicated a good kharif season this year.
Total foodgrain production in the country is estimated at 277.49 million tonnes this year, which means there will be over six million tonnes more production in 2018-19 if the targets are achieved.
As per the ministry's tentative targets, foodgarin production during the kharif season is expected to be 140.2 million tonnes while it would be about 142.5 million tonnes during the rabi season as per the tentative targets, said Agriculture Commissioner S.K. Malhotra the conference.
Paddy production would be around 113 million tonnes in 2018-19 including 98 tonnes during kharif season. The ministry has targeted 100 million tonnes of wheat production this year.
Monsoon rainfall is likely to be 97 per cent of the Long Period Average (LPA) with an error estimates of plus-minus five per cent.
As per the targets, pulses production is expected to be 24 million tonnes while oilseeds production would be 36 million tonnes -- almost six million tonnes compared to that this year (2017-18).
Singh said the government schemes had ensured enough production of pulses, thus "completely" shutting imports.
"There was a time when one had to pay Rs 200 (per kg) for pulses. However, there is no need to pay," he said.
He also said the government was planning to launch new schemes for remunerative prices for all crops in case market prices fall.
Malhotra said except soybean there was enough seed stock available for all crops and required measures were being taken to address the shortage.
