February 11, 2011

India foresees record 81-million-tonne wheat output

India's wheat output is forecast to touch record level of 81.47 million tonnes in the 2010-11 harvest year.

The overall food grain production is seen at 232.07 million tonnes in 2010-11 against 218.2 million tonnes last year.

Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar is scheduled to release the second advance estimates of agricultural production here tomorrow. The government releases estimates at different growing stages of the crops.

For a government battling high inflation, especially of food items, the estimates are expected to bring in some solace.

Sources added that oilseed production is seen at 27.85 million tonnes in 2010-11 against 24.92 million tonnes in the previous crop year.

According to Advance Estimates released by the Central Statistical Organisation (CSO) yesterday, agriculture and allied activities are likely to grow at 5.4% in 2010-11, compared to just 0.4% in 2009-10.