Govt sets foodgrain production target at 284 MT for 2018-19

New Delhi: Buoyed by the forecast of a normal monsoon, the Centre on Wednesday announced a production target of 283.7 million tonnes for 2018-19 with 140.2 million tonnes for kharif and 142.5 million tonnes for rabi crops.

"The normal rainfall prediction by India Meteorological Department (IMD) was a positive news for farmers in particular and the agriculture sector in general. It's a good signal for production of kharif crops," Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh said while inaugurating the National Campaign for Kharif Campaign, 2018 on Wednesday.

While reiterating government's resolve to declare 50 per cent hike in the minimum support price for the coming kharif crops, Singh said, "The government will soon announce a scheme to ensure that farmers get the MSP price announced by it, if rates fall below the benchmark price."

"The credit for ensuring the nation's food security goes to the farmers. Today, India is not only self-dependent but also an exporter of many agricultural products. It is also true that farmers do not get a fair value of their produce; therefore an all-round development of the agriculture sector is needed to ensure the stock of food and agriculture product, and enhance farmers' income," Singh maintained.

Stressing upon the need for state government's cooperation in implementing the schemes of the Centre, the minister said, "It's the need of the hour that states governments must give their full support in implementing schemes of the Central government. It would only then benefits of Centrally-sponsored schemes would benefit farmers."

While appealing officials from states to properly implement the schemes/missions in their state, Singh said, "Farmers must be encouraged to participate in large numbers in the ongoing Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan. At Kisan Kalyan Karyashala that would be organised on May 2 at every block, agriculture officers and scientists would discuss ways to increase income through new technology."

In 2018-19 crop year, the ministry aims to increase foodgrain production by 6.2 million tonnes -- 2.9 million tonnes in wheat, 2 million tonnes in rice and 1.3 million tonnes in coarse cereals. Rice production target has been fixed at 113 million tonnes in 2018-19 from estimated 111.01 million tonnes output in the current crop year.