India is well on course to reaping a record grain harvest for a second successive year on higher planting of key crops and conducive weather over vast regions, Agriculture Secretary PK Basu said on Monday, scotching speculation that drought-like conditions in some parts may stoke supply concerns and lead to another protracted bout of high food inflation.

Basu told FE that grain output is all set to meet the target of 245 million tonne for the year through June 2012, compared with 241.56 million tonne in 2010-11, on bumper harvests of rice and wheat. India is expecting 102 million tonne of rice and at least 84 million tonne of wheat in 2011-12.

?Crop condition is excellent. Recent rainfall has been very beneficial for the crops and farmers because they saved money for one irrigation. Going by the position as of now, I am quite confident we will be achieving our targeted production this year,? Basu said.

A record harvest in 2011-12 will keep domestic supplies steady. It will also help the government in implement a proposed food security act. Bumper summer production has helped official rice stocks swell to 29.7 million tonne as of January 1.

?The weather for the wheat crop has been very conducive. The only thing that remains to be watched is the terminal heat in March…. but no way we are slipping from the food grain target,? Basu said. ?Compared to last year, there may be some dip in oilseed production because of rough weather in few parts of Maharashtra and Karnataka. But for the country as a whole, I am looking forward to another bumper crop,? he said.

Higher productivity in coarse cereals will offset any fall in their coverage, he said, adding that the pulse output target of 17 million tonne is ?very much achievable? in 2011-12. Good returns and plentiful rains encouraged many farmers to switch to paddy and cotton crops during summer. Official sources said if the country could achieve a record grain production in 2010-11 despite 150 districts facing either drought or floods, the target of 245 million tonne is easily achievable in 2011-12 when ?the situation is much better?. The country received fairly good rainfall which helped in irrigation.