India set to have record production of foodgrains in 2011-12: Sharad Pawar

India is set to have record production of wheat, rice and cotton, according to the Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar. Foodgrain production is expected to be 252.56 million tonnes as against 235.88 million tonnes in 2010-11 and will break a 60 year old record.

Wheat production is expected to record 90.23 million tonnes against 84.27 million tonnes last year, while rice output is likely to be 103.41 million tonnes compared to 94.11 million tonnes in 2010-11. Cotton production at 35.2 million bales (of 170 kg each) will be higher than 33.9 million bales last year.

With a view to boost the agriculture sector, the Agriculture Minister has had discussions with eminent industrialists like Mukesh Ambani, Jamshyd Godrej and M S Banga who have given 15 recommendations which include liberalising agri-procurement, streamlining norms for private investment in agriculture supply chain and revisiting Minimum Support Price (MSP) norms.

The committee of industrialists had also suggested linking agri-credit with crop insurance, increasing competition in rural banking, promoting R&D investments in high-yielding hybrids, promoting sustainable agricultural practices, leveraging and promoting technical innovations, conducting land reforms in a phased manner and setting up of agricultural parks.

While the government is in favour of involving the private sector in agriculture development, it has made it clear that it will protect the ownership interest of farmers. Hence any proposal like giving agriculture land on lease to private firms for cultivation of cash crops shall not be entertained.