The Agriculture Secretary Ashish Bahuguna has said that due to shortage of rainfall the Kharif productivity and production will have some impact with coarse cereals like maize seen as receiving the maximum blow. He cited his concern that this year it is not possible to achieve 257.44 million tonnes of foodgrains production which was achieved last year. Besides, the actual fall in the production cannot be predicted as it is early to say anything but in the time frame of next 7-10 days the clear picture will emerge.
In 2011-12 crop year (July-June) period, the country harvested a record foodgrain production of 257.44 million tonnes, of which kharif (summer-sown) season contributed 129.94 million tonnes while rabi (winter-crop) season contributed 127.50 million tonnes. Presently, the state of Karnataka, Maharashtra, Gujarat and Rajasthan are affected due to scarcity of rain with Karnataka leading among them. The prime major concern is also Karnataka and Maharashtra where the productivity will be low.
However, compared to 2009 currently the rain deficit is 22% and the situation is not bad either. In 2009, there was 27% rain deficit which led to decline of 16 million tonnes of foodgrain production. This time the spread is also not very bad though there is rainfall deficient in Orissa, West Bengal and other states. Rice sowing so far this year is down by 10%, pulses by 31%, coarse cereals by 24%, oilseeds by 10% and cotton by 9%.