look news india
New Delhi: India's foodgrain output rose to a record 332.22 million tonnes in the 2023-24 crop year that ended in June, thanks to a bumper output of wheat and rice. The final estimate for 2023-24 shows an increase of 2.61 million tonnes from the previous year's 329.6 million tonnes, the agriculture ministry said.
Rice production rose to a record 137.82 million tonnes in 2022-23 from 135.75 million tonnes. Wheat production also rose to an all-time high of 113.29 million tonnes against 110.55 million tonnes in the previous year.
However, production of pulses declined from 26.05 million tonnes to 24.24 million tonnes and oilseeds production declined from 41.35 million tonnes to 39.66 million tonnes.
Sugarcane production fell to 453.15 million tonnes from 490.53 million tonnes and cotton production fell to 32.52 million bales (1 bale equals 170 kg) from 33.66 million bales, the ministry said, based on information received from the fields.
The ministry said the decline in production of pulses, coarse cereals, soybean and cotton was due to drought-like conditions in southern states including Maharashtra and prolonged dry spell in Rajasthan, particularly during August.