India's farm production likely to exceed projections in 2011-12: Sharad Pawar

20 Oct 2011 Evaluate

After achieving record levels of food grain production in 2010-11 and an encouraging Monsoon 2011, Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar appeared hopeful that food production in the country will exceed projections and achieve the targeted 4% growth in 2011-12. The minister stated that the national foodgrain production reached a record level of 241.6 million tonne in 2010-11 while highest ever production of wheat, pulses, oil seeds and cotton was also achieved during the period.

As per first advance estimates, Kharif 2011 production of rice in the country is estimated at 87.10 million tonnes which will be an all time high, also Cotton and Oilseeds are expected to see record productions in 2011-12. The farm minister was hopeful that the crop area would see a substantial expansion and a record production will be achieved in the coming Rabi season too, which will be higher than the production record set last year.

However, the agriculture minister also cautioned about the demand side challenges that the nation faces because of its burgeoning population by stating that “demand of food grain will grow rapidly in next few decades not only due to growing population but also due to rise in per capita income and various governmental interventions to ensure food and nutritional security to less advantaged people.” In order to meet the swiftly growing demand and to ensure food and nutritional security, Pawar said that farm production will have to be boosted which can be done with more competitive demand on land and water, progressive fragmentation of land holdings, degrading natural resource base and emerging concerns of climate change.

He further stated that increase in agricultural production would have to emanate only by enhancement in farm productivity from existing cultivated area and so the concentration must be on enhancing production and productivity both by bringing in high yielding varieties, hybrids and efficient farm equipments.

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