Foodgrain output may drop 2.5% in Kharif season this year

New Delhi: India's foodgrain production may decline by 3.5 million tonnes to around 135 MT in the current kharif season due to floods and dry spell in some parts of the country, official sources said.

The country had produced a record 138.52 MT in the kharif season of 2016-17 crop year (July-June) on good monsoon rains.

According to the sources, the overall production of Kharif foodgrains (comprising rice, pulses and coarse cereals) is likely to be around 135 MT in the current season. Sowing for Kharif crops begins around July and harvesting takes place from October.

The fall is mainly due to less acreage under paddy and pulses in the wake of poor rains and depressed prices of lentils, they added.

Rice output is estimated to drop to around 95 MT from 96.39 MT in last kharif season, sources said, adding that marginal fall is also expected in pulses.

However, the output of coarse cereals will be normal during the kharif season.

This is the initial assessment of the kharif crops and output may be revised upwards as farmers may go for late sowing in flood-hit areas.