India reveals plans to raise food grain output in 2013

According to Indian agriculture minister Sharad Pawar, food grain production in the country this year will be likely to reach the targeted 254.23mn tonnes despite drought and deficient rainfall in some parts of the country last year.

In 2011-12, India produced an estimated 259mn tonnes, including about 105mn tonnes of rice. However, it was expected that food grain production may not cross the 250mn tonnes mark in 2012-13 due to droughts last year.

Better-than-expected production of pulses and several other crops have been reported from several parts of the country, the agriculture minister revealed recently.

However, rice production in 2012-13 is estimated to be around 101.8mn tonnes, down about two per cent from the targeted 104mn tonnes.

Meanwhile, the minister for science, technology and earth sciences has revealed that rains were expected to be normal in India this year.

The Indian Meteorological Department chief said that rains would be 98 per cent of the long-period average (LPA) in 2013, which falls within the 95 per cent and 105 per cent of the LPA range considered normal.