India is projected to post a record increase in the production of major kharif crops this year, with total foodgrain output estimated to rise by 3.87 million tonnes to 173.33 million tonnes. The figures were released on Wednesday by Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan while presenting the first advanced estimates of kharif production.
The estimates show strong gains in both rice and maize. Kharif rice production is expected to reach 124.5 million tonnes, an increase of 1.73 million tonnes over last year. Maize output is projected at 28.3 million tonnes, 3.4 million tonnes higher than the previous kharif season.
According to the data, total coarse cereals production is expected to touch 41.4 million tonnes, while pulses are pegged at 7.4 million tonnes. The pulse basket includes estimated production of 3.59 million tonnes of tur (arhar), 1.2 million tonnes of urad and 1.72 million tonnes of moong.
Chouhan said that although excessive rainfall affected some areas, most regions benefited from favourable monsoon conditions, contributing to strong crop performance overall.
Oilseed production during the kharif season has been projected at 27.56 million tonnes. Soybean output is estimated at 14.26 million tonnes, and peanut (groundnut) production at 11 million tonnes, 0.68 million tonnes higher than last year.
Among non-food crops, sugarcane production is expected to reach 475.6 million tonnes, an increase of 21 million tonnes year-on-year. Cotton output is projected at 29.2 million bales, while Patson and Mesta together are estimated at 8.3 million bales. Each bale weighs 170 kilograms.
The Agriculture Ministry noted that the estimates are based on past yield trends, ground-level observations, and data received from states. Final figures will be revised after crop cutting experiment yield data becomes available.