January 4, 2012

India's 2011/12 agricultural output to reach highest levels

Amid inconsistent weather in some parts of India, prospects for the country's 2011/12 rabi crops still remain optimistic.

The country has put all efforts to achieve the targeted production of 245 million (24.5 crore) tonnes of foodgrains during 2011/12. The production scenario of the India in 2011/12 is as follows: The production of foodgrains (covering only kharif crops) during 2011/12 is estimated at an all time record level of 123.95 million (12.395 crore) tonnes mainly due to increase in production of rice in the country.

Kharif production of the nine oilseeds is estimated at record level of 208.86 lakh tonnes which is about 0.2% higher than kharif 2010/11 due to significant increase in the production of castor seed. Production of sugarcane is estimated at 3,421.97 lakh tonnes significantly higher than the production of 3,391.68 lakh tonnes during 2010/11.

Production of cotton is estimated at a record level of 361.02 lakh bales (of 170 kg each) as compared with the earlier record production of 334.25 lakh bales achieved during 2010/11.