India: Better harvest in rice, wheat, millets to fuel record output

India is set to achieve a record foodgrain production of 332.29 million tonnes in the 2023-24 agricultural year, an increase of 2.61 mt from the previous year, due to favourable production in key categories such as rice, wheat, and millets. However, the production of pulses and coarse cereals has faced challenges, leading to an increase in imports expected. The production of oilseeds, including rapeseed and mustard, has also seen significant growth. However, the water-intensive nature of sugarcane production has led to calls for more sustainable agricultural practices. The production of cotton and jute, which are essential to India’s textile industry, has also been estimated.

India is set to achieve a record foodgrain production of 332.29 million tonnes (mt) in the 2023-24 July-to-June agricultural year, according to final estimates released by the agriculture ministry on Wednesday. This represents an increase of 2.61 mt from the previous year’s total of 329.68 mt. The growth has been attributed to favourable production in key categories such as rice, wheat and millets. While foodgrain production as a whole scaled new highs, pulses and coarse cereals faced challenges in the 2023-24 season. Total pulse production was estimated at 24.25 mt, with tur (pigeon pea) at 3.42mt and gram at 11.04 mt. The low production of pulses is expected to lead to an increase in imports, as the average annual consumption of pulses in the country is estimated at 27 mt. The Indian agricultural year, or crop year, straddles two main seasons—kharif (sown during monsoon, harvested in autumn) and rabi (sown in winter, harvested in spring). Bad weather—specifically drought-like ...