Centre sets foodgrains target of 285 2 mt for next year, against estimated output of 284 8 mt this year

New Delhi, Sept 18 :   Despite monsoon being deficient by eight per cent so far this year, the Centre on Tuesday announced a foodgrains production target of 285.2 million tonnes for the next year (2018-19) with 141.2 million tonnes to be achieved in kharif and 144 million tonnes in the Rabi season.
The total foodgrains output achieved in 2017-18 was 284.8 million tonnes as declared recently by the Union Agriculture Ministry in its 4th Advance Estimates.
The target for wheat has been set at a record 100 million tonnes based on “comfortable’’ water level position in 81 reservoirs in the country. The 4th Advance Estimates shows wheat output as 99.7 million tonnes for this year.
Rice target has been fixed at 113 million tonnes compared to 112.9 million tonnes achieved this year.
According to Union Agriculture Commissioner SK Malhotra, “the targets are set taking into account the food and nutritional security and the income security for farmers that has to be sustained.’’
He was speaking at the National Conference on Agriculture Rabi Campaign 2018-19 here on Tuesday.
The Conference, being attended by Agriculture Commissioners and Secretaries from states and union territories, sets first estimates for Kharif and finalises strategy for the next Rabi season. It will come up with its first estimates of Kharif output on Wednesday.
Mr Malhotra said the availability of seeds and fertilizers was “comfortable’’.
The Commissioner made a special mention of the mechanized means of managing paddy straw residue for which the government had extended subsidy of up to 80 per cent to farmers in states like Punjab, Haryana, western Uttar Pradesh and Delhi.
“This will stop pollution in and around Delhi from stubble burning around Diwali,’’ he said.
UNI.