Record foodgrain output likely on good rain in Jul, Aug:Pawar

New Delhi, July 16. The country will achieve record foodgrain production in kharif season this year if monsoon continues to be good in July and August as projected by the weather office, Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar said today. The Met Department has projected good monsoon in July and August for the entire country, including North-east region which has received deficient rain, he added. "By and large, the monsoon is quite encouraging. Because of good monsoon, farmers have taken initiatives for sowing operations. Sufficient seeds were provided by the Centre and states. That's why, the area this year so far is higher as compared to last year," Pawar said. The sowing operations generally continues till August and the final picture would be known only after that. "If this (monsoon) situation continues, the trend definitely showing the foodgrains production will break last two years record. It is very encouraging," he said. For the kharif season, all-time high in foodgrains output was in 2011-12 at 131.27 million tonnes. However, the output fell in kharif last year because of drought in Karnataka, Maharashtra, Gujarat and Rajasthan. So far, sowing area under kharif season is 52 per cent higher at 517.65 lakh hectare as against 341.49 lakh hectares in the year-ago period. Pawar said the monsoon situation is not good in North East compared to other parts of the country, but said rice production would not be affected. "I was briefed by the Met Department, rain during whole of July and August will be good for entire country, including the North-east," he said, adding that Met Department expects rainfall of 105 per cent plus and minus five per cent in July and August. On imposition of import duty on pulses, Pawar said: "We are not accepting the proposal of CACP." The Food Ministry is in favour of a 7.5 per cent import duty on pulses as against 10 per cent suggested by the Commission for Agriculture Costs and Prices (CACP) to boost domestic production. Asked about whether exports will continue in view of of food law, Pawar said: "As of now, stock position is extremely good. Unless we export, there will be problem, there will be damage. That's why we have to export. Whatever requirement of foodgrains estimated for food security, that has been kept safely".