The Hindu Business Line : 2007-08 foodgrain output estimate raised again

The Union Agriculture Ministry’s ‘fourth advance estimates’ of crop output for 2007-08, released here on Tuesday, has assessed the total foodgrain production at a record 230.67 million tonnes (mt), against the earlier ‘third’ and ‘second’ advance estimates of 227.32 mt and 219.32 mt respectively.

The production figures of rice, wheat and coarse cereals have been upgraded to all-time high levels of 96.43 mt, 78.40 mt and 40.73 mt, respectively. The most striking upward revision has been for maize, with the 2007-08 crop estimated at 19.31 mt, which is 28 per cent more than the 15.10 mt for the previous year.

Maize export ban

When asked for the reasons behind banning export of maize when the crop size was assessed more than the initial estimates, the Secretary, Department of Agriculture and Cooperation, Dr P.K. Mishra, said: “It was a collective decision involving not only us, but also the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying and the Commerce Ministry.”

He further said the ban, imposed on July 3, was temporary and would be lifted in the event of a bumper crop. The ban is currently in place till October 15. Since the ban, maize futures have fallen by about Rs 75 a quintal, from their peak Rs 970 a quintal levels.

MSP for kharifs

Regarding the minimum support price for kharifs, which have not been announced despite commencement of sowing operations, Dr Mishra said: “We are awaiting the recommendations of the Prime Minister’s Economic Advisory Council (EAC), which is looking into the prices proposed by the Commission for Agricultural Costs & Prices (CACP)”. He declined to give any time-frame for the EAC to submit its recommendations.

The other crops for which production in 2007-08 is estimated to have touch record levels included soyabean (9.99 mt), groundnut (9.36 mt), cotton (25.81 million bales), tur (3.09 mt), urad (1.52 mt) and moong (1.56 mt).

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