Despite fall in karif output, Planning Commission member Abhijit Sen has estimated farm output growth of 0.5% to 1% this year. “I have a feeling that there could be a kharif shortfall of two to three per cent. But some of these losses could be offset in the rabi season and at the end of the day I expect farm growth to be positive,” Sen added.
The sharp decline in yield of coarse cereals and pulses apart from a general slump in other crop groups affected the farm output. On farmers’ suicides, Sen pointed out that one reason for farmers getting caught in the debt trap was that they were slanting towards growing risky cash crops.
Abhijit Sen mentioned that inflation could continue to remain high for the next 2 months on account of increase in fuel prices. He anticipated the buildup of oil prices to raise inflationary pressures.
