Govt sets high targets for foodgrains output

The Dollar Business Bureau

With hopes of abundant rainfall after two straight years of drought, the Centre aims to reach a target of 270.10 million tonnes of food grain production in the Crop Year 2016-2017.

The country had touched a new record with an output of 265.04 million tonnes in Crop year 2013-14. However, the output in Crop Year 2015 and 2016 plunged to 252.02 and 253.23 million tonnes, respectively. The reason behind the falling figures of output was the droughts witnessed in over ten states.

For the crop year 2016-17, the Indian Meteorological Department has predicted a better monsoon, the arrival of which in Kerala is likely to be delayed by a week.

The ambitious target set for 2016-2017 crop year is not only higher than the previous year’s target of 264.10 million tonnes, but also higher than the output of 265.04 million tonnes achieved in 2013-14.

Besides hoping for a good monsoon, impact of schemes like Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bhima Yojana and soil health card have encouraged the government to aim for a higher output.

Among the category of food grains, the government aims to reach rice output of 108.50 million tonnes, wheat at 96.50 million tonnes, granular cereals at 44.35 million tonnes and 20.75 million tonnes of pulses in crop year 2016-2017.

However, the cash crops target output has not been set much high. The output targets for sugarcane, cotton and jute are 355 million tonnes, 36 million bales and 11.70 million tonnes respectively.

For the moment agricultural fields are being prepared for the sowing of kharaif crops with the onset of the monsoon. The government on its part has prepared to deliver good fertilizers, seeds and other farm inputs needed for sowing during the kharif season. While the sowing for Kharif begins during the south west monsoon season in June, its harvesting begins in October.