NEW DELHI: Foodgrain production during the 2023-24 crop year is estimated to touch a new record of 332 million tonne (MT), which is higher by over 2 MT than the output of nearly 330 MT during 2022-23 despite ‘below normal’ monsoon rainfall last year, show data released by the agriculture ministry on Wednesday. The ministry during 2023-24 introduced digital techniques, using remote sensing data, for the estimation, claiming that new system has ensured “transparency and robustness” of the yield estimates.
Though soil moisture stress during the Rabi season, due to less rainfall in certain states in 2023, impacted the production of pulses, coarse cereals, soybean, and cotton, the record production of paddy and wheat pushed the overall output of foodgrains to an all-time high of 332 MT.
Rise in overall production despite less than normal rainfall in the country shows how drought-proofing of farming by gradually improving irrigation infrastructure has delinked the output of most of the crops to an extent from minor variations in monsoon rainfall, even as the quantitative and spatial distribution of seasonal rain continues to play a significant role in the country’s farming operations.
The output of rapeseed and mustard — India’s major oilseed — also reported record production during 2023-24. The ministry attributed decline in production of pulses, coarse cereals, soybean and cotton in 2023-24 compared to previous year to the “drought-like conditions” in certain states, and “prolonged dry spell during August”, especially in Rajasthan. The estimates of the production of foodgrains, oilseeds and other crops have been primarily prepared on the basis of information received from states and UTs.