Lok Sabha Question No. 616 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-02-06
Subject: Foodgrain Production
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: KIRIT PREMJIBHAI SOLANKI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, COOPERATION AND FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.616

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 6 TH  FEBRUARY, 2018

## FOODGRAIN PRODUCTION

616. DR. KIRIT P. SOLANKI:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ षि एवं ककसान कल्याण मंत्री be pleased to state:

- (a) the  details  of  foodgrain  production  including  various  pulses,  cereals  and  rice  in  the country during the current year;
- (b) the estimated rate of growth of the agriculture sector during the said period;
- (c) whether the foodgrain output has declined/ is likely to decline during the Kharif season and if so, the reasons therefor; and
- (d) the steps taken by the Government to increase foodgrain output and boost the growth rate of the agriculture sector?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

कृ षि एवं ककसान कल्याण मंत्राऱय में राज्य मंत्री (SHRI  GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)

- (a): It is early to have a firm assessment of increase or decrease of total production of pulses in 2017-18 for the current year as the Second Advance estimate covering both Kharif and Rabi pulses are normally released in mid-February.

The  details  of  kharif  foodgrain  production  (as  per  1 st Advance  Estimate  2017-18) including  various  pulses,  cereals  and  rice  in  the  country  during  the  current  year  is  given  as under:

## (in Million tonnes)

| Crop             |   Production |
|------------------|--------------|
| Rice             |        94.48 |
| Total Cereals    |       125.96 |
| Tur              |         3.99 |
| Urad             |         2.53 |
| Moong            |         1.32 |
| Total Pulses     |         8.71 |
| Total Foodgrains |       134.67 |

(b): As  per  First  Advance  Estimates  of  National  Income  2017-18  released  by  Ministry  of Statistics  and  Programme  Implementation,  the  rate  of  growth  of  agriculture  &  allied  sector during the year 2017-18 is estimated at 2.1%.

(c): Total  production  of  Kharif  Foodgrains  during  2017-18  is  estimated  at  134.67  million tonnes (as per first advance estimate) which is lower by 3.86 million tonnes as compared to last year's  Kharif  foodgrains  record  production  of  138.52  million  tonnes  (as  per  fourth  advance estimate).  However,  estimated  kharif  foodgrain  production  of  2017-18  is  6.43  million  tonnes more than the average production of five years ending 2015-16.

Foodgrain output varies and exhibits a mixed trend on year to year basis depending on variations  in  weather,  rainfall  situation,  irrigation  facilities  and  shift  in  the  area  due  to  other competing crops.

(d): To increase the foodgrain production and to boost the growth rate of the agriculture sector Government  implements  various  schemes  such  as  Rashtriya  Krishi  Vikas  Yojana,  National Food Security  Mission,  Mission  for  Integrated  Development  of  Horticulture,  Soil  Health  Card, promotion of Neem Coated Urea, Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima  Yojana,  Paramparagat  Krishi  Vikas  Yojana.  Also,  Price  Support  Scheme  and  Market Intervention Scheme are implemented to ensure remunerative prices to farmers.

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