New Delhi, Oct 2 (PTI) After harvesting a record 78.4million tonnes wheat last year, India may produce additional2.8 million tonnes of the grain in 2008-09 if farmers increasethe area by one million hectare, as targeted by thegovernment, says an agriculture expert. "From additional one million hectare area, about 2.8million tonnes (MT) of wheat could be grown based on last yearyield level, provided weather remains conducive for planting,"the Director of Karnal-based Wheat Research Institute, BMishra, said. Mishra, however, said, "I am not sure whether wheat areawould increase by one million hectare. It will be known onlyafter sowing." The average wheat productivity at national level is about2.8 tonnes per hectare as per the fourth advance estimates for2007-08. Last week, the Agriculture Secretary had said thegovernment targets to increase the wheat acreage by onemillion hectare in 2008-09. The government has set a wheatproduction target at 78.5 MT, up by one lakh tonnes fromprevious year. Experts said the government seems to be relying on theaverage productivity in the last five years because theproduction target for 2008-09 is very "conservative"considering the planned increase in wheat area by one millionhectare. Agriculture expert Devender Sharma also noted that "thewheat acreage can maximum increase by one lakh hectare thisyear". He further said that increase in wheat acreage by onemillion hectare is an "over-ambitious" target.
Mishra, however, said that farmers may increase areabecause of the high minimum support price (MSP) for wheat. Thegovernment is likely to announce the MSP of wheat for thisrabi season late this month. He noted that wheat sowing can begin early this year fromOctober 20 as temperature is conducive though normal plantingstarts from November onwards. (PTI )
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