September 28, 2009

India's winter-sown foodgrain output in the 2009-10 season starting October is expected to rise by 8 million tonnes on higher acreage and use of higher-yielding seeds, a senior government official said Friday (September 25).

 

The rise in winter-sown crop output will partially offset an expected fall in summer-sown production due to below-normal rains and ease fears of a foodgrain shortage.

 

Federal Farm Commissioner N.B Singh said the government expects sowing of winter crops to go up by 4.5 million hectares, over last year's winter acreage of about 50 million hectares.

 

"Our plan is to make up for the expected loss in summer- sown crop output from winter crops like wheat, pulses and oilseeds," Singh told reporters at a conference.

 

The country expects its summer-sown crop output to fall as annual monsoon rains were 2 percent below the 50-year average between June 1-Sept. 23 affecting sowing and crop output. About 60 percent of India's farmlands are rain fed.

 

Wheat is the main crop grown during the winter season, and it is sown in October and harvested from March onwards.

 

Singh said a late revival in rains in August and September brightened the prospects for the winter crop, as reservoir levels and soil moisture have risen.

 

The government expects an additional wheat output of 2 million tonnes in 2009-10 season with likely rise in acreage by 500,000 hectares.

 

In 2008-09, the total area under wheat crop was 27.5 million hectares, resulting in a bumper crop of 80.58 million tonnes.

 

Singh said the government expects the output of winter-sown oilseeds, rice and pulses to rise by 1.2 million tonnes, 3.5 million tonnes and 1 million tonnes respectively.

 

India's winter-sown foodgrains output in the 2008-09 season was estimated at 112 million tonnes. The winter crops such as wheat are sown in October and harvested from March onwards.

 

Output of winter-sown coarse cereals is also likely to rise by 1.5 million tonnes, he said.

 

Singh said the government will provide adequate seeds to farmers to ensure timely sowing of the winter crops.

 

The federal agriculture ministry has already asked states to ensure complete sowing of wheat by end of November, he added.