Global wheat output is estimated to rise by 3.4 per cent to 676 million tonne in 2011 as high global prices led to an increase in the area under coverage in many countries, United Nation's body FAO today said.
"Food and Agriculture Organisation's (FAO) first forecast for world wheat production in 2011 stands at 676 million tonne, up 3.4 per cent from 2010," FAO said in a statement on its website.
The production in 2011 would still be below the bumper harvests in 2008 and 2009, it added. Besides rise in area, FAO expects that productivity would increase in countries which were affected by drought in 2010.
"Wheat plantings in many countries have increased or are expected to increase this year in response to strong prices, while yield recoveries are forecast in areas that were affected by drought in 2010, the Russian Federation in particular," the statement said.
In Asia, good 2011 wheat harvests are forecast in India and Pakistan, FAO said.
India's wheat production is estimated at an all-time high of 81.47 million tonne, according to the second advance estimate released by the Indian government.
"In China, the drought situation in the North Plain has been eased by recent precipitation but the outlook for the wheat crop still remains uncertain," FAO pointed out.
As the bulk of the world's coarse grains and paddy crops are yet to be planted, it is, however, too early to forecast total cereal production for this year, the statement said.
