Foodgrain production in 2012-13 has marginally increased to 259.32 million tonnes as against 255.36 million tonnes in 2011-12. However, the notable thing is that the country’s production has increased despite deficient and erratic rains in 2012-13. Considering the rising investment in agriculture, new initiative taken by the Government, constant rise in minimum support prices of major foodgrains and likely good monsoon this year, should help the country to surpass the foodgrain production level reached in 2012-13. Further, the National Food Security Mission (NFSM), a mega scheme of the Ministry of Agriculture, has been able to encourage farmers to adopt scientific knowhow and modern practices, leading to perceptible rise in production of foodgrains.
A number of crop and areas specific schemes introduced in the recent past have also let to higher production of various crops. The area focused scheme, Bringing Green Revolution to Eastern India (BGREI), has resulted in increase in rice area, higher adoption of technology, and greater participation of small and marginal farmers in seven States in eastern India. Schemes have also been launched specifically for increasing production of pulses, oilseeds, horticultural crops, fodder crops, coconut and saffron.
