Foodgrain production expected to touch record levels of over 250 mt: PM

16 Feb 2012 Evaluate

Foodgrain production is expected to touch record levels of over 250 million tonnes, exceeding targets for the year by 5 million tonnes. The production of cotton in 2011-12 estimated at 34 million bales which is also a new record, stated the Prime Minister while addressing a workshop in the Rashtrapati Bhawan.

However, Singh cautioned that inspite of the record production, India could not afford to be complacent as the demand for horticulture and animal products was increasing very rapidly and this would require some shift of area away from production of foodgrains. Therefore agricultural productivity in foodgrain production had to go up handsomely to keep pace with demand.

Furthermore, to meet the total demand of foodgrains in the year 2020-2021, food production need to report surge by 2%. To achieve this agricultural research and application of new technologies and knowledge to processes production would have to be stepped up. Singh emphasized on the need to increase yields in the eastern region and of more efficient use of water and called for a special focus on rainfed areas, where farm productivity continues to be low.

The PM observed that there was a big gap between the farm gate prices and the retail prices that the consumers were paying. Also there was volatility, with prices being low after harvest. Hence there was a need to address all these issues by reforming the agricultural marketing systems and by investing in supply chain logistics, including the cold chains. He further stated that private investment was being encouraged in various areas of agriculture, including extension activities, soil testing, seed production and agricultural marketing. A substantial portion of hybrid and certified seeds today was coming from private seed companies and private investment in marketing logistics would be vital for growth, particularly in sub-sectors with perishable products.

Acknowledging his government’s efforts in the last seven years Singh said that his government had been paying considerable attention to agriculture which has resulted in increased bank credit to the agriculture sector and an increase in minimum support prices for key agricultural commodities. The prime minister emphasized that a strong agriculture was necessary for food security and inclusive growth could not be achieved in its true sense without providing livelihood security to the farmers.Agriculture and allied sectors had grown at an estimated rate of 3.5% in the 11th Five-Year Plan (2007-12), compared to the growth rate of 2.4% in the previous plan period. The foodgrain production in 2010-11 crop year (July-June) stood at 244.78 million tonnes.

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