The country’s paddy output may rise 2 per cent this season on bumper output because of prolonged rains throughout the monsoon.
According to the latest report by the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) of the United Nation, the country’s total paddy output is estimated to increase to 147 million tonnes during 2008 as compared to 144.6 million tonnes in 2007.
The Kharif season that contributes around 80 per cent of the total output, is expected to produce an extra 15 per cent paddy this year which is around 110 million tonnes as against 96.35 million tonnes last year.
V K Chaturvedi, managing director of Usher Agro, attributes the all-time high output this year to the allure of farmers to contribute additional area under paddy crop coupled with higher yield on good monsoon.
| HIGH HOPES | |||
| 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | |
| Wheat | 69.4 | 75.8 | 78.0 |
| Coarse grain | 32.5 | 39.7 | 37.3 |
| Rice (paddy) | 140.0 | 144.6 | 147.0 |
| Total | 241.9 | 260.1 | 262.3 |
| (million tonnes) | |||
Paddy requires more moisture in the soil throughout the crop cycle of 180 days. Large quantity of water is also needed infield and outfield for germination of roots with full capacity. Additionally, a dry spell of 15 days before harvesting increases the size of the grain thereby, resulting into a substantial growth in yield.
FAO also estimated about 4 per cent rise in wheat output to 78 million tonnes in 2008 as compared to 75 million tonnes during last year.
This is the highest in the last 8 years and 2.2 million tonnes above the previous record set last year, as a result of favourable weather and increased inputs available during the main growing season. This production is expected to be adequate for the domestic demand in 2008-09 after large imports in the past two years. The country imported about 6.7 million tonnes of wheat in FY07 and then about 2 million tonnes in 2007-08.
In contrast, the area diversion to the more remunerative crops including wheat and rice may result into a downward production forecast of coarse grains to 37.7 million tonnes this year from 39.7 million tonnes last year. Thus, India’s overall cereal output, according to FAO, may increase by 0.85 per cent during 2008 at 262.3 million tonnes as compared to 260.1 million tonnes last year.
The Ministry of Consumer Affairs reported a 7 per cent or 2.1 million hectares growth in sowing area during the current Kharif season to 32.46 million hectares as against 30.36 million hectares last year till August 22. FAO report said that the 2008 southwest monsoon in India was close to the long-term average until the middle of September.
The region-wise distribution of rains, too, has been satisfactory for agriculture. Therefore, 2008 milled rice output is tentatively forecast at 98 million tonnes as compared to the 96.4 million tonnes of last year, it added.
World cereal production in 2008 is forecast to increase 4.9 per cent to a record 2232 million tonnes after better than expected results from the major harvests gathered in the past two months.
