Grain output estimate lowered

The agriculture ministry has lowered its foodgrain production estimate for 2005-06 from 210 million tonnes to 208.3 million tonnes.

This amounts to a year-on year growth of 5 per cent, against 5.8 per cent projected by the ministry in May. The foodgrain output in 2004-05 was 198.36 million tonnes. The crop year 2006-07 has just begun with the current kharif sowing.

While the output estimate for rice has been raised from 89.88 million tonnes projected in May to 91.04 million tonnes, that for wheat has been scaled down from 71.54 million tonnes to 69.48 million tonnes.

The estimate for pulses has been lowered only marginally from 13.92 million tonnes to 13.11 million tonnes. The coarse cereal output projection has been kept unchanged at 34.67 million tonnes.

The output estimate for oilseeds has, however, been raised from 26.69 million tonnes to 27.73 million tonnes and for cotton from 18.92 million bales (of 170 kg each) to 19.57 million bales. The projection for sugarcane has also been increased by about five million tonnes "" from 273.1 million tonnes to 278.3 million tonnes.

The 4th advance estimates for crop production in 2005-06, issued by Krishi Bhawan today, have projected the foodgrain output in kharif at 109.7 million tonnes and rabi at 98.6 million tonnes.

The corresponding figures for 2004-05 were 103.31 million tonnes and 95.06 million tonnes.

However, going by the past practice, the 4th advance estimates can also change substantially when the ministry comes out with its final estimates for 2005-06.

Last year, the 4rth estimate had put the foodgrain output at 204.61 million tonnes but the final estimate had lowered it by some 6 million tonnes to 198.36 million tonnes.

The latest set of estimates project the jute and mesta production at 10.74 million bales (of 180 kg each), against 10.82 million bales estimated in May and 10.27 million tonnes in 2004-05.