The government today projected wheat production in 2007-08 crop year at 71.78 million tonne against 74.89 million tonne recorded in the previous season.Releasing the production and demand estimates for wheat for the next three years, Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar told Rajya Sabha that the same for crop year 2007-08 stands at 71.78 million tonne and 71.19 million tonne respectively.Pawar, however, said: "The production of wheat during crop year 2006-07, to be consumed during 2007-08, is estimated to be 74.89 million tonne, and to this extent, the availability for the year 2007-08 has increased as against the projected production for this year."The minister also projected the production of the grain at 72.60 million tonne for 2008-09. However, he said there could be a shortfall of 0.12 million tonne as the demand is estimated at 72.72 million tonne.Replying to a question by Kalraj Mishra and Santosh Bagrodia, Pawar said the projected shortfall in 2009-10 could go up to 0.82 million tonne.The projected production and demand of wheat in 2009-10 crop year stood at 73.44 million tons and and 74.26 million tons respectively, he added.Pawar also informed the house that the government had already announced National Food Security Mission to increase the wheat production by 8 million tonne by the end of 11th Five Year plan through area increase and productivity enhancement in targeted districts.
