Context
India’s foodgrain production has reached a historic high of 332.22 million tonnes (MT) in the 2023-24 crop year, surpassing the previous record of 329.6 MT set in 2022-23. This remarkable achievement is largely attributed to bumper harvests of key crops like wheat and rice.
Record Rice and Wheat Output
- Rice production went up by 137.82 MT from the previous level of 135.75 MT recorded a year ago. Similarly, the wheat production record was 113.29 million tonnes, a much greater than 110.55 million tonnes of Wheat production in 2022-23.
- The growth in production of rice and wheat may be as a result of good weather conditions and observation of policies put in place by the government to enhance the production of food crops.
Decline in Pulses and Oilseeds
- It remained satisfactory in average level overall food grain production, but the pulse and oil seeds production was lower than the previous year.
- Pulses production was 24.24 MT against 26.05 MT and oilseeds production was only 39.66 MT against 41.35 MT.
- The ministry said this was due to “drought-like conditions in southern states including Maharashtra and prolonged dry spell during August particularly in Rajasthan.”
- Following the moisture stress of the drought it also impacted the Rabi season with the production of pulses, coarse cereals, soybean and cotton.
Other Crop Production
- Sugarcane production went down to 453.15 MT from 490.53 MT and cotton production reduced to 32.52 million bales of 170 kgs from 33.66 million bales.
- The foodgrains basket includes rice, wheat, coarse cereals, millets and pulses. These estimates have been prepared on the basis of information gathered from the states and union territories, said the ministry.
Significance of Record Production
- The record foodgrain production shows that Indian agriculture can go through all the odds thrown to it through the hatchery box of climate change and the likes.
- It also explains the enhancements in governmental programmes to increase the yield per acre, for instance the DGCES system which enhances the genuineness of estimated crop yields.
- Through the expanded production capacity of wheat and rice, food security and access to the food requirements of the increasing population in the country will always be available. It will also help the government in it’s agenda to keep food prices low and fight inflation.
Challenges and the Way Forward
- Although the record production is a plus for the country, there should have been a tremendous production in pulses and oilseeds instead of a poor one. This will force the government to resolve issues of drought and climate change in order to have standard and constant crop production for all crop varieties.
- Irrigation infrastructure development, climate change aware agricultural practices, better investment on research and development of crops that can withstand drought conditions are some among the interventions needed in counteracting climate change effect on agriculture.
- Further, the government should follow the policies like subsidies, crop insurance, and extension services to protect farmers from changing climates.The agricultural growth scenario mentioned above India is expected to produce food grains of 292 Million tonnes in the year 2023-24 is an inspiring picture of change.
- Nevertheless, the demands arising from the necessity to address climate change and provide for sustainable production remain important concerns that cannot be solved once and for all, but which should continue to attract attention and investments.
- Through overcoming these challenges, and by learning from the successes of the previous year, India then can remain food secure and ready for further development towards the growth of agriculture in years to come.
Source: BS