September 19, 2005

India expects rise in winter grain output at 105.25 million tonnes

Despite a lower winter oilseed output expected in India following poor rains, winter grain output this year was forecast to rise with a larger crop area, the country's government said.

Winter grain output was forecast to rise to 105.25 million tonnes from 103.32 million tonnes in 2004, the government said.

Sowing for winter crops begins with the arrival of monsoon rains in June and harvesting starts in October. Rice, coarse cereals, soybeans, groundnuts, cotton and sugarcane were mainly grown during India's winter season.

Coarse grain area this season rose to 22.9 million hectares from 22.8 million hectares in 2004.

Meanwhile, oilseed production was estimated to fall to 14.56 million tonnes this season from 14.94 million tonnes in 2004, due to poor August rains in key central and western regions.

The government said India's soybean output, the season's main oilseed crop, was expected to fall to 6.58 million tonnes from 7.51 million tonnes in 2004.

However, the government added that with more rainfall in September, subsequent estimates of India's oilseeds output should be better.