'Kharif crops to take a hit'

The deficit rainfall would take a toll on kharif production this year, with coarse cereals like maize receiving greatest hit, Agriculture Secretary Ashish Bahuguna said on Tuesday. “It is certainly not possible to achieve 257.44 million tonnes of foodgrain production this year. It is too early to say how much would be the actual fall in production. Deficient rains will have some impact on productivity and production in kharif," Bahuguna said.