India Agriculture Ministry estimates 6% drop in kharif rice output this season
According to the Indian government’s estimates, the country’s rice production is set to see a decline in the karif season this year, mainly attributed to a drop in paddy acreage.
There is a likely to be a six percent decline – approximately 104 million tonnes – in output this season in light of poor rains in key rice producing states.
The Agriculture Ministry’s first advance estimate sees kharif crop for the 2022-23 year dropping from the 111 million tonne figure from a year ago.
Paddy coverage in key states has dropped, as evidenced by the following numbers:
Jharkhand (9.37 lakh hectares)
Madhya Pradesh (6.32 lakh hectares)
West Bengal (3.65 lakh hectares)
Uttar Pradesh (2.48 lakh hectares)
Bihar (1.97 lakh hectares)
The karif season contributes to 85% of India’s total rice production, with the rest coming from the rabi season.
Estimates see the subcontinent’s foodgrain production falling to 149.92 million tonnes in the 2022-23 season as against 156.04 million tonnes in the 2021-22 season.
However, these are initial estimates and experts see rainfall revival to narrow down the deficit by the end of the season.
Agriculture, Food Processing ministries launch convergence portal for 4 major schemes
The government on Wednesday launched a joint convergence portal for different schemes run by Food Processing and Agriculture ministries. According to an official statement, the Ministry of Agriculture and Ministry of Food Processing Industries jointly launched a convergence portal between Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF), Pradhan Mantri Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) scheme and Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana (PMKSY).
The convergence portal was launched in the presence of Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar, Food Processing Minister Pashupati Kumar Paras and Minister of State for Agriculture Kailash Choudhary.
Food Processing Secretary Anita Praveen and Agriculture Secretary Manoj Ahuja were also present.
Export policy for 2022-23 sugar season soon, says Food Secretary
The government will announce the export policy for sugar for the next season soon, food and public distribution secretary Sudhanshu Pandey said on Wednesday.
Announcement of the policy will help sugar mills in enter into forward export contracts. Indian Sugar Mills Association (Isma) president Aditya Jhunjhunwala said the association has urged the government to allow exports of 8 million tonnes of the sweetener in 2022-23 in view of a surplus production.
India had recorded record sugar exports under open general licence in 2021-22. The shipments were halted by the government in May this year when it capped annual exports at 10 million tonnes as part of its measures to check food inflation in the domestic market.
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