Total food grain production India is estimated at 281.37 million tonnes during 2018-19 as compared to 277.49 million tonnes in the previous fiscal, the government said on Thursday.
This is higher by 15.63 million tonnes than the previous five years' (2013-14 to 2017-18) average production of food grains, according to second advance estimates released by the Department of Agriculture.
Most major crop producing states witnessed normal monsoon rainfall, hence the production of most crops is higher, the estimates said.
Rice production is estimated at 115.6 million tonnes, 4.59 million tonnes higher than production of 111.01 million tonnes in 2017-18. The production of wheat in 2018-19 is estimated at 99.12 million tonnes compared to 97.11 million tonnes in the previous year.
However, production of nutri/coarse cereals is estimated lower at 42.64 million tonnes compared to 45.42 million tonnes in 2017-18. Total pulses production during 2018-19 is estimated marginally higher at 24.02 million tonnes.
Oilseeds production is estimated at 31.5 million tonnes, sugarcane production at 380.83 million tonnes, cotton at 30.09 million tonnes and jute & mesta at 10.07 million bales (of 180 kg each).