As per the first advance estimates of production of kharif crops, 117.18 million tonnes (MT) foodgrains is likely to be produced in the current season.
These production estimates are higher than the average of the first advance estimates of the last five years (113 MT). Final estimates are generally 5 to 10 per cent higher than the first estimates. Even as compared to the average of final estimates (118.86 MT), the current estimates are lower by 1.68 million tonnes or about 1.4 per cent despite deficient and late rains this year.
These estimates were released by Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar, who said the estimates were higher than expectations considering the truant monsoon rains.
The assessment of production of different crops is based on the feedback received from the states and validated with information available from other sources.
The estimated production of major crops during Kharif 2012-13 is as under:
Foodgrains 117.18 million tonnes
ñ Rice 85.59 million tonnes
ñ Coarse Cereals 26.33 million tonnes
ñ Maize 14.89 million tonnes
ñ Pulses 5.26 million tonnes
ñ Tur 2.78 million tonnes
ñ Urad 1.14 million tonnes
Oilseeds 18.78 million tonnes
ñ Soyabean 12.62 million tonnes
ñ Groundnut 3.82 million tonnes
ñ Castor seed 1.40 million tonnes
Cotton 33.40 million bales (of 170kg each)
Sugarcane 335.33 million tonnes
As per first advance estimates, production of rice was estimated to be 85.59 million tonnes, which is lower than last year's record kharif production but higher than the average production of 83.17 million tonnes.
The estimated production of coarse cereals, is however, lower than average production by 3.65 million tonnes mainly on account of loss in area coverage under bajra and maize in the states of Gujarat, Haryana, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Rajasthan.
The estimated production of kharif pulses is also lower than the average production by 0.45 million tonnes mainly due to shortfall in moong and other kharif pulses.
Though there is a significant increase in estimated production of soyabean, yet due to decline in the production of groundnut, the total production of kharif oilseeds estimated at 18.78 million tonnes is lower than the average production by 0.61 million tonnes.
The current year's production of sugarcane estimated at 335.33 million tonnes is higher by 10.22 million tonnes as compared to average production.
The estimated production of cotton at 33.40 million bales (of 170kg each) has registered an increase of 5.32 million bales as compared to average cotton production of 28.08 million bales. The production of jute is also estimated to be marginally higher than the average production.
