February 6, 2012

India's 2011-12 food grain output to achieve new record

For consecutive second year, India has achieved a record 250.42 million tonnes of food grains in 2011-12 and a record harvest in 2010-11 of 244.42, which included rice, wheat and coarse cereals.

Farmers of Bihar and Jharkhand have extended timely support to the Centre to successfully implement the proposed National Food Security Act (NFSA), as the special "Green Revolution" package for the eastern region, which was announced in the 2011 Budget, appears to have started giving rich dividend.

Talking to reporters here on Friday (Feb 3)agriculture secretary P.K. Basu said, "Extra 12-13 tonnes of rice has come from the eastern belt alone and as a result the overall food grains output has touched a record 250.42 tonnes."

Both rice and wheat production are seen to set fresh records at 102.75 tonnes and 88.31 tonnes in 2011-12 crop year (July-June), respectively, Basu said while releasing the second advance crop estimate. In 2010-11, wheat output was at 86.87 tonnes and rice production at 95.98 tonnes.

The record food grains production would help the government introduce the proposed NFSA, which aims to provide cheaper grains to the poor. It also means that the government may continue export of rice and wheat for some time considering storage concerns.

Highlighting the performance of the eastern states, Basu said: "Bihar and Jharkhand, known as laggard states in agriculture production and productivity, have outperformed in yields, as their rice output has more than doubled to 6.75 tonnes and 3.3 tonnes, respectively, this year." Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, on August 15, 2011, had said that a second Green Revolution is needed to increase farm production and control rising food prices, as well as to meet the grain requirement under the proposed National Food Security Act.