The production of pulses has declined by 0.58 million tonnes against the output of 31.16 million tonnes in 1997-98. The output of all commercial crops, with the exception of jute and mesta, has marked an increase over the previous year's output level. But the production of sugarcane and cotton has fallen short off target.

The output of wheat in the current rabi season is fixed at a modest estimate of 70.63 million tonnes of the expected rabi foodgrain output of 98.39 million tonnes. These advance estimates were arrived at in consultations with states on the concluding day of the national conference on kharif campaign in the capital.

Earlier, several experts and ministry officials werehoping that the wheat production in the current rabi season will be much over 70 million tonnes and may even touch 75-million tonne level.

The target of foodgrains output underwent several changes in the course of the year with varying expectations eked out by experts. The agriculture ministry differed with the Planning Commission estimating the target at 210 million tonnes. Later, the ministry worked out the target at 207 million tonnes, which was subsequently revised to 205 million tonnes and later to 204 million tonnes.

According to the earlier tentative estimate of the ministry, the total production was pegged at 195.25 million tonnes with wheat output pegged at 69.13 million tonnes, rice at 82.23 million tonnes, coarse cereals at 29.11 million tonnes and pulses at 14.78 million tonnes. The finance ministry, of late, has estimated that the foodgrains production in 1998-99 will be only 195 million tonne.

According to recent advance estimates of the agriculture ministry, the production of rice andwheat will mark a marginal increase over the set target for these commodities while the output of coarse cereals and pulses has fallen short off target. The rice production is estimated at 84.48 million tonne against the targeted 84.20 million tonnes.

The output of wheat is expected to be 70.63 million tonnes against the target of 70 million tonnes. The production of coarse cereals is estimated at 30.58 million tonnes against the targeted 34.30 million tonnes. The output of coarse cereals in 1998-99 has marked a decline of 0.58 million tonnes against 31.16 million tonnes recorded in the previous year. Similarly, the output of pulses is expected at 15.19 million tonnes as against the target of 15.50 million tonnes.

There is also a variance between the estimates of oilseeds production worked out by the agriculture ministry and the edible-oil industry. According to the agriculture ministry's estimate, oilseeds' production in 1998-99 is likely to be 25.30 million tonnes, while, according to the edible-oilindustry it is 22,59 million tonnes. The kharif oilseeds production is 15.74 million tonne, while according to the industry it is 13.05 million tonnes. Similarly, the estimate of rabi oilseeds output according to the agriculture ministry is 9.56 million tonne, while the industry has pegged it at 9.54 million tonnes.