The Centre has raised the production target of Rabi crops to 132.78 million tonnes (MT) for 2015-16 higher by about 1.6% compared to 130.75 MT produced last crop year (July-June). This step has been taken in the wake of the sudden southwest monsoon revival in some parts at the fag end of the 2015 season.
Sowing of rabi crops starts in the first week of October and its harvesting begins in last week of March. The production of wheat is estimated to have declined to 88.94 MT in 2014-15 crop year as against a record 95.85 MT achieved in the previous season, mainly due to unprecedented rains and hailstorm during the peak harvest months.
Foodgrain output stood at 126.31 MT in the kharif (summer) season of the 2014-15 crop year (July-June).