After low agricultural growth in 2009-10 due to the worst drought in 37 years, normal monsoon rains this year have bolstered the country’s farm output prospects.
However, even as the country witnessed a “normal” south-west monsoon (June-September) after a 23 per cent deficiency a year ago, and was 102 per cent of its long period average, there were significant regional variations which hit production of certain crops in the kharif season.
Agricultural growth, which had come down to one per cent in 2009-10, is expected to be around 4.4 per cent in this financial year, with a contribution of around 17 per cent to the overall GDP.
However, 29 per cent of the districts and the north-eastern parts of the country, in particular, had to battle drought for the second consecutive year.
The mid-year review of the economy, released today, observed that acreage under crops had remained more or less the same but “productivity gains are expected”. In 2009, the kharif season had started well with the completion of sowing of most of the crops; however, the deficit monsoon damaged crops, resulting in productivity losses.
This year, with acreages higher in most kharif crops except paddy, bajra, sunflower and sesame due to drought-like conditions in the eastern region, the productivity of all crops in expected to be higher than 2009, which is expected to “boost production sharply”, the review said.
This year, there has been a significant increase of 15 per cent in acreage of pulses, which has also seen the highest increase of Rs 700 in its minimum support price. The government is encouraging production of pulses, given the steep rise in domestic demand and to reduce dependence on imports.