Government projects record foodgrains output in 2016-17

New Delhi: The government has set a target to achieve a record foodgrains production of 271.98 million tonnes in 2016-17 crop year on back of good monsoon after two consecutive drought years.

The department of agriculture on Wednesday released the 2nd advance estimates of production of major crops for 2016-17 crop year. The agri crops are grown in the kharif (summer) and rabi (winter) seasons of the crop year (July-June).

As per second advance estimates, total foodgrain production in the country is estimated at 271.98 million tonnes which is higher by 6.94 million tonnes than the previous record production of foodgrain of 265.04 million tonnes achieved during 2013-14.   

The current year’s production is also higher by 14.97 million tonnes than the previous five years’ (2011-12 to 2015-16) average production of foodgrains. The current year’s production is significantly higher by 20.41 million tonnes than the last year’s foodgrain production.

The country had last achieved a record output of 265.04 million tonnes in 2013-15. However, the production in 2014-15 and 2015-16 fell to 252.02 million tonnes and 253.23 million tonnes, respectively, due to drought in more than ten states.

Key highlights of 2nd advance estimates

-Total foodgrains production in the country is estimated at record 271.98 million tonnes

-Total production of rice is estimated at record 108.86 million tonnes

-Production of wheat, estimated at 96.64 million tonnes is also a record

-Production of coarse cereals estimated at a new record level of 44.34 million tonnes

-Total production of pulses during 2016-17 is estimated at record 22.14 million tonnes

-Total oilseeds production in the country is estimated at record level of 33.60 million tonnes