With prospects of good monsoon and increase in area under kharif crops, India is likely to have a "bumper crop" this year, Agriculture and Food Minister Sharad Pawar said today.
"The way sowing operation is undergoing and report of good monsoon from the states, we are likely to have a bumper (foodgrains) production this year," Pawar said here.
The Minister had earlier this week said area under kharif crops such as paddy, oilseeds and pulses is expected to be higher than that in the last two years. The sowing of kharif crops has begun from June with the onset of South West Monsoon and will continue till September.
According to the official data, paddy has been sown in 46.46 lakh hectare as on July 1, against 45.43 lakh hectare in the year-ago period.
Sugarcane has been covered in 47.37 lakh hectare, against 41.79 lakh hectare, cotton planted in 43.68 lakh hectare, against 29.17 lakh hectare, oilseeds sown in 28.86 lakh hectare against 12.96 lakh hectare in the review period.
Asked about the impact of flood in Punjab and Haryana, Pawar said, "I have talked to concerned states. There is a problem, but in limited areas. I will get a detail report in a day or two. I don't think the situation is that serious".
Punjab and Haryana are the two leading foodgrain producers in the country.
