Can India expect record agri production this year?

A plentiful kharif season is the dream of every farmer as well as for economy. Can it be achieved this season?

According to the first advance estimates of crop production for 2007-08 report that was released on Wednesday, India can expect record production in maize, oybean, cotton and sugarcane crops.

Releasing the advance estimates of kharif production on the conclusion of two-day annual national conference for rabi campaign -2007 on Wednesday, Union Agriculture Secretary P K Mishra said it would be the second best achievement for the foodgrains production after 2003-04 season.

The estimates were based on the assessments given by the state governments. During kharif 2007-08, foodgrain production is estimated at 122.24 million tons.

Rice is expected to remain at the last year's level of 80 million tons. Production of coarse serials is estimated to be 26.58 million tons, which is 9 lakh tons more than the estimated production for the 2006-07.

Cotton output is expected to stand at 22.94 million bales in 2007-08 crop year (June-May) compared to 22.70

million bales last year.

Bt cotton accounted for as much as 60 pre cent of the total cotton produced. Sugarcane production is also expected at 345.62 million tons from 345.31 million tons.

Maize output in the current year is expected to go up to 13.07 million tons from 11.43 million tons last year.

The production of rice, the main foodgrain in the kharif, is pegged at 80.15 million tons against last year's 80.11 million tons.

Among the pulses, arhar output is expected at 2.7 million tons from 2.4 million tons while total pulses would be 5.51 million tons against 4.74 million tons.

The production of groundnut, which dipped last year to 3.28 million tons as farmers shifted from groundnut to cotton, is likely to recover to 5.18 million tons this year.