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India’s milled rice production is expected to decline 6 per cent to 98.5 million tonnes in the current kharif (summer sowing) season due to late onset of monsoon rains leading to deficit in key northern and southern growing areas, United Nation’s body FAO said.
The Food and Agriculture Organisation said in its latest report that the delay and fall in sowing in the current season was on account of insufficient rains and shortages in irrigation facilities.
“FAO tentatively forecast the 2012 aggregate rice production in India at 98.5 million tonnes (milled basis), which is 6 per cent lower than the good level of the previous year,” FAO said in a statement.
Production from the kharif season amounts to about 53 per cent of the total annual cereal output and about 88 per cent of the main staple, rice, it added.
“However, the crop output of this season will depend on the rainfall progress during the last month of monsoon,” the UN body added.
About 45 per cent of the agricultural land in the country is under irrigated condition, while the rest depends upon monsoons.
Normal rains were recorded since the beginning of August in many areas of the country, particularly in eastern regions.
However, key rice northern and southern growing areas still show significant cumulative rains deficits, FAO said.
“Late onset of the 2012 summer monsoon, followed by a prolonged dry spell during the months of June and July in the main producing areas of the country is expected to negatively affect production of the 2012 main Kharif season crops, including paddy, maize, sugarcane, pulses and oilseeds,” it said.
As per the Indian Meteorological Department’s (IMD) data, the overall rainfall in the country during June—August 28 is deficient by 13 per cent.
Rice acreage in the ongoing kharif season is down by 4 per cent to 329.19 lakh hectare as of August 24 as against 342 lakh hectare in the year—ago period.
The country has harvested a record 104.32 million tonnes of rice in the 2011—12 crop year (July—June).
However, FAO noted that the overall food security in the country is considered to be satisfactory given the high level of foodgrain stocks.
As of August 1, 2012, the total foodgrains stock with the Centre is 76.11 million tonnes as compared to 61.28 million tonnes in the same period last year.
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