The Hindu : National : Decline in kharif output more than expected

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Wednesday, Nov 04, 2009
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Decline in kharif output more than expected

Gargi Parsai

NEW DELHI: Kharif foodgrains output, including rice, coarse cereals and pulses, is expected to be lower by 18.7 million tonnes for 2009-10 compared to the first estimates released around the same time last year. However, when compared with the fourth kharif estimates for 2008-09, the decline — attributed to drought in parts of 12 States and floods in some others — is estimated at 21.07 million tonnes.

This will further impact food prices, which are already ruling high. As per the first advance estimates released by the Ministry of Agriculture here on Tuesday, rice production is expected to be lower by 13.8 million tonnes, while a drop of 2.67 million tonnes is expected in oilseeds. A sharp decline of 45.1 million tonnes is expected in the sugarcane, while groundnut production is estimated to be lower by 1.56 million tonnes compared to last year.

The first advance estimates put the kharif foodgrains estimates for 2009-10 at 96.63 million tonnes (MT) as against 115.33 MT in the first advance estimates of 2008-09. Rice output is expected to be 69.45 million tonnes as against 83.25 million tonnes in the first estimates last year. Total coarse cereals output is expected at 22.76 million tonnes as against 27.36 million tonnes last year, while that of pulses is estimated at 4.42 million tonnes against 4.72 million tonnes .

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