The country’s foodgrains production during 2008-09 rose to 233.88 million tonne against 230.8 million tonne recorded during a year before period, the fourth advance estimates released by the ministry of agriculture on Tuesday said.
While the foodgrains production rose by only about 1.1%, country’s wheat production clocked a record 80.58 million tonne during 2008-09 season, from a high of 78.57 million tonne achieved during the previous year,
According to the estimate, the rice production rose to an all-time high of 99.15 million tonne during 2008-09, compared to 96.69 million tonne in 2007-08.
The fourth estimates signifies end of last fiscal data on various foodgrains production while the third advance estimate (released in May) is also considered as near final figures as it takes into account the harvested crop of both rabi and kharif output and market arrivals of the commodities.
Pulses production has been revised slightly upward to 14.66 million tonne against 14.18 million tonne in the third advance estimates. Pulses output stood at 14.76 million tonne in 2007-08 season.
The production of coarse cereals has been revised upward to 39.48 million tonne against a figure of 38.67 million tonne in the previous estimates.
Coarse cereals production was 40.76 million tonne during the last season.
Among oilseeds, the production of soyabean, has been revised downward, while mustard and groundnut output is reported higher than the last estimate.
Soyabean production is now seen at 9.9 million tonne while mustard output at 7.37 million tonne, whereas, groundnut at 7.34 million tonne.
According to the agriculture ministry data, the nation is estimated to have produced 271.25 million tonne of sugarcane and 23.16 million tonne of cotton bales in 2008-09 season (170 kg a bale).
The government had fixed a target of 233 million tonne foodgrains production for 2008-09.