New Delhi, Nov 22: Government today said output of the Rabi season will not be better than it was in the same season last year as the impact of efficient rains in July will be felt on the summer crop as well. "Whenever Kharif output is hit by drought, agriculture performance in the Rabi season is also affected. Sowing has been delayed by 40 days for most Crops and only now picking up in wheat," agriculture secretary J N L Srivastava told reporters.
Speaking on the sidelines of a conclave on oilseeds, pulses and maize, he said it is yet to be estimated whether Rabi foodgrain output will touch last year's 99.8 million tonnes, but based on the past trends it will not be higher.
He said in Punjab where normally wheat sowing is complete by November 30, it has been delayed by at least 15 days. Sowing has also been delayed in west Uttar Pradesh (UP) region of Bulandshahr and Muzzaffarpur where sugarcane is yet to be lifted from the fields owing to a row over price regime.
But in west up, wheat sowing usually continues till early December while in Bihar it is completed only by January 15.

Nationally, ideal sowing period is upto November 15, he added.
Srivastava said though acreage of mustard has been lower in Rajasthan, it has been higher overall and any fall in output there is likely to be made up with more production in UP and Haryana.
Mustard is the most important Rabi oilseed crop with oil content of upto 40 per cent and Rajasthan produced around 17 lakh tonne in the total output of 46.5 lakh tonne last year.
He said ever since monsoon data analysis began in 19th century, the rains recorded in July this year have been the lowest. Bureau Report