The government announced on Wednesday that it would aim to produce 328 million tonnes (mt) of food grains during the crop year 2022–2023 (July–June), which is 4% more than the previous year’s record output of 315.7 mt. In the crop year 2022–2023, rabi crops like wheat, mustard, and chana (gram) would contribute 164.8 mt to the total grain output. Crops for the rabi season are planted in the winter months of December and January and harvested starting in April.
Despite a little 1.2% reduction in the area under all Kharif crops (paddy, pulses, oilseeds, cotton, Nutri-cereals, etc.) to 106.9 million hectares (MH) up to last week, the government has set a target for higher food grain output for 2022–23. The country’s total paddy sowing area was recorded at 38.3 mph, 5.6% less than one year prior.
An agriculture ministry statement released following the opening of the national conference on agriculture for the rabi campaign-2022 stated that the strategies would be to increase area through intercropping, crop diversification, and productivity enhancement by introducing high yield varieties, adopting suitable agronomic practices in low-yielding regions, utilizing residual moisture, early sowing, and lifesaving irrigation for rabi crops.
The output of oilseeds in the non-food grain category increased by more than 4% to 37.7 mt in the 2021–22 crop year compared to the previous year, according to the agriculture ministry. A record 11.74 mt of rapeseed/mustard seed was produced, which is 15% greater than the crop year 2020–21. Soybean output rose by 3% to 12.99 mt compared to the previous year. About 56% of India’s demand for edible oil is imported. While cotton production is anticipated to decline to 31.2 million bales (170 kg each) from 35.24 million bales, sugarcane production is projected to reach a record 431.8 mt in the 2021–22 season.
