Kharif production could touch new highs on the back of increased acreage

India is expected to harvest record production of pulses, oilseeds and coarse cereals in this year's kharif season because of higher acreage under these crops so far despite the prediction of a deficient monsoon, Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh said on Monday.

"There has been a significant increase in area under pulses, oilseeds and coarse cereals so far and we expect record production of these crops," Singh told PTI.

In a related development, data from the food ministry showed that around 25 states and union territories (UTs) have put in place stock limits on pulses, onions and potatoes to prevent their prices from spiraling, while Assam, Himachal Pradesh, Meghalaya and Tripura didn't have any stock limit, but have made a licence mandatory for those trading in these commodities.
 

TOMATO PRICES SQUEEZE CONSUMERS

• Tomato prices in the retail markets of Delhi and also some other cities rose by Rs 5-10 per kg in the past 10 days as heavy rains in central and some parts of North India, hampered movement of goods
• In Delhi, according to data from the department of consumer affairs, tomatoes were selling at Rs 47 per kg on July; 10 days ago the vegetables cost was around Rs 38 per kg
• A similar increase was also seen in Shimla; in Hisar, data showed that tomato prices rose by Rs 16 a kg in the past 10 days

The previous peak in coarse cereals and pulses output was 33.08 million tonnes and 7.12 million tonnes each achieved in the 2010-11 kharif season, while the record oilseeds output of 22.61 million tonnes was witnessed in 2013-14 kharif season.

India Ratings (Ind-Ra) in a report released on Monday, too, said production of kharif crops could touch a new record if rainfall during the rest of the monsoon season remains similar to that seen till mid-July.

The agency is basing its optimism on the higher sowing of kharif foodgrain this year, which led to an increased acreage under pulses and higher reservoir levels than in FY15.

Its optimism also comes from the 33 per cent more water in the reservoirs as of mid-July over the 10-year average. Reservoir level was only 12 per cent higher for the same period last year.

Kharif grains represent 49.6 per cent of the total food grain output in the country and the sowing of this crop was 63 per cent higher by mid-July this year over the same period last year, when monsoon was poor.

In June, the average rainfall was 13 per cent more than the long-period average.

For the year as a whole, sowing is currently 8.72 per cent higher than the normal kharif sowing area by mid-July. Total kharif crop sowing area as of July 17 was 56.33 million hectares compared to 34.63 million hectares last year.

Sowing of key crops like rice, pulses and oilseeds is higher than last year. Paddy sowing is 4.4 per cent higher so far, but is 11.4 per cent lower than normal sowing.

In case of pulses, sowing is 134 per cent higher than last year and 36 per cent higher than normal sowing, while oilseeds sowing are a whopping 234 per cent higher than last years and 44.7 per cent higher than normal acreage.

Last year's bad monsoon pulled down kharif output to 124.60 million tonne from 128.69 million tonne in FY14.

For kharif oil seeds, the probability of higher production is also brightened due to a 44.7 per cent rise in acreage from normal acreage. However, sugarcane, cotton, jute and mesta are likely to be a shade lower than in FY15.