Rewind 2018: Year witnessed increased agricultural crop production

New Delhi: The production of foodgrains in the country during Kharif 2018 has been estimated at 141.59 million tonnes (1st Advance Estimates) against 140.73 million tonnes (4th Advance Estimates) during kharif 2017, which is higher by 0.86 million tonnes. Further, kharif foodgrain production is 11.94 million tonnes more than the average production of five years (2012-13 to 2016-17) of 129.65 million tonnes.

The Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers Welfare that sets target for the production of foodgrains in the country annually, had fixed production of foodgrains at 290.25 million tonnes for the 2018-19. At the same time, the production of foodgrains in the country has been estimated at 284.83 million tonnes (4th Advance Estimates) for 2017-18, which is a record.

Total production of Kharif rice is estimated at 99.24 million tonnes. This is higher by 1.74 million tonnes than the last year’s production of 97.50 million tonnes. Further, it is higher by 6.64 million tonnes over the average production of Kharif rice during the last five years.

The total production of nutri/coarse cereals in the country has decreased to 33.13 million tonnes as compared to 33.89 million tonnes during 2017-18. Production of Maize is expected to be 21.47 million tonnes which is higher by 1.23 million tonnes than that of last year’s production of 20.24 million tonnes. Further, this is more than 4.40 million tonnes than the average production of maize during the last five years.

The total production of Kharif pulses is estimated at 9.22 million tonnes which is lower by 0.12 million tonnes than the last year’s production of 9.34 million tonnes. However, kharif pulses estimated production is 2.67 million tonnes more than the last five years average production.

The total production of Kharif oilseeds in the country is estimated at 22.19 million tonnes as compared to 21.00 million tonnes during 2017-18, i.e., an increase of 1.19 million tonnes. Also, it is higher by 2.02 million tonnes than the average production of last five years.

Production of Sugarcane is estimated at 383.89 million tonnes which is higher by 6.99 million tonnes than the last year’s production of 376.90 million tonnes. Further, it is higher by 41.85 million tonnes than the average production of last five years. Estimated production of Cotton is 32.48 million bales (of 170 kg each) and production of Jute & Mesta estimated at 10.17 million bales (of 180 kg each).

As per the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the rainfall in the country was normal (-9%) during South-West monsoon season (June to September 2018).

Production Scenario of Major Rabi Agricultural Crops 2017-18 (as per 4th Advance Estimates)

As per Fourth Advance Estimates for 2017-18, total Rabi food grain production in the country is estimated at 144.10 million tonnes which is higher by 7.32 million tonnes than the previous record production of rabi food grain of 136.78 million tonnes achieved during 2016-17. The rabi production during 2017-18 is also higher by 13.58 million tonnes than the previous five years’ (2012-13 to 2016-17) average production of food grain.

Total production of Rabi Rice during 2017-18 is estimated at record 15.41 million tonnes.  Production of rabi rice has increased by 2.01 million tonnes than the production of 13.40 million tonnes during 2016-17. It is also higher by 1.71 million tonnes than the five years’ average production of 13.70 million tonnes.

Production of Wheat, estimated at record 99.70 million tonnes, is higher by 1.19 million tonnes as compared to wheat production of 98.51 million tonnes achieved during 2016-17.  Further, the production of wheat during 2017-18 is higher by 6.36 million tonnes than the average wheat production of 93.34 million tonnes.

Production of Rabi nutri/coarse cereals estimated at record 13.10 million tonnes is higher than the average production by 1.91 million tonnes. Further, it is also higher by 1.77 million tonnes as compared to their production of 11.33 million tonnes achieved during 2016-17.

Total Rabi Pulses production during 2017-18 is estimated at record 15.89 million tonnes which is higher by 2.34 million tonnes than the previous year’s production of 13.55 million tonnes.  Moreover, the production of rabi pulses during 2017-18 is higher by 3.60 million tonnes than the Five years’ average production of 12.29 million tonnes.

Total Rabi Oilseeds production in the country during 2017-18 is estimated at 10.31 million tonnes which is marginally higher by 0.55 million tonnes than the production of 9.76 million tonnes during 2016-17. However, the production of rabi oilseeds during 2017-18 is higher by 0.92 million tonnes than the average rabi oilseeds production (2012-13 to 2016-17).