 "Winter-sown grains output seen at 132.78 mn tonne in 2015-16")
India's winter-sown grains output is seen at 132.78 million tonne in the current crop year ending next June, versus 130.75 million tonne a year ago, Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh said.
"So far the monsoon deficit is at 14%, but we have had good rains in the past few days and it should help increase soil moisture for the rabi (winter) crop," Singh told reporters on Tuesday.
Winter crops account for about half the country's grains output.
The June-September monsoon rains are so far 14% below normal due to El Nino, a weather pattern caused by Pacific Ocean warming that can cause drought in South Asia.
Rains were 12% deficient in 2014, cutting grains output by 4.7% in the year to June 2015.