Country likely to harvest record rice, wheat & pulses output

New Delhi, Feb 14. Foodgrains production is estimated to reach an all-time high of 263.2 million tonnes in 2013-14 crop year as the country is likely to achieve record rice, wheat and pulses output on the back of good monsoon. In the second advance estimates for major crops released today, the Agriculture Ministry has pegged rice production at record 106.19 million tonnes (MT) as against 105.24 MT in the previous crop year (July-June, 2012-13). Wheat production, too, is estimated to rise at record 95.60 MT in 2013-14 against 93.51 MT in the previous year. Government has projected pulses production at record 19.77 MT in 2013-14 against 18.34 MT last year, while coarse cereals output is likely to rise at 41.64 MT against 40.04 MT in the period under review. Barring coarse cereals, the country is expected to witness record production in other three components of foodgrains -- wheat, rice and pulses as good monsoon in 2013 boosted area under cultivation of these crops. "India is likely to produce 263.2 MT of foodgrains during 2013-14 (includes Kharif 2013 and Rabi crops in the field at present) compared to 257.13 MT last year," an official statement said. Record output would help the government in its fight to contain inflation, particularly in food items. Wholesale inflation has eased to a seven-month low of 5.05 per cent in January, on decline in the rate of price rise in food articles, mainly vegetables. Retail inflation also fell to 2-year low of 8.79 per cent in January. Previous record of foodgrains, rice and wheat was achieved during 2011-12 crop year at 259.3 MT, 105.3 MT and 94.88 MT, respectively. In pulses, all-time high was 18.34 MT last year. In non-foodgrains categories, the record production is expected in cotton and oilseeds at 35.60 million bales and 32.98 MT, respectively. Last year, cotton output stood at 34.22 million bales (of 170 kg each) and oilseeds at 30.94 MT.