Amidst challenges from food inflation, the government anticipates a "bountiful harvest."

 Amidst challenges from food inflation, the government anticipates a "bountiful harvest."

Amidst challenges from food inflation, the government anticipates a "bountiful harvest."

This year's severe weather conditions, which have included both floods and droughts, have sparked concerns about the production of food grains as well as artificial supply shortages. As a result, the government has been forced to adopt many preventive steps, such as export limits on certain commodities. have fulfilled.

Amidst challenges from food inflation, the government anticipates a "bountiful harvest."

Despite efforts to control food inflation ahead of the general elections in 2024, the government of India anticipates record food grain output as the country's agricultural industry continues to be resilient to unpredictable weather patterns.

This year's severe weather conditions, which have included both floods and droughts, have sparked concerns about the production of food grains as well as artificial supply shortages. As a result, the government has been forced to adopt many preventive steps, such as export limits on certain commodities. have fulfilled.

Additionally, in an effort to increase domestic supply and slow the fast increase in retail prices of wheat, rice, edible oils, pulses, tomatoes, and onions, the government subsidized the sale of a few goods.

The government is closely monitoring the prospects of Rabi (winter) crops, particularly wheat and pulses, which have just been sowed, as well as the 2024 mango harvest in April and May, even if measures to regulate food prices are still ongoing. Will be harvested in the vicinity of the elections.

Following a low point of 2.96 percent in May, food inflation was high for the rest of the year. It stood at 8.7 percent in November.

Between July 2023 and June 2024, there are two growing seasons for agricultural crops: Rabi (winter) and Kharif (summer). Rabi crops are now being sowed, while Kharif crops have been harvested.

The first projections from the agricultural ministry are out, and they don't look good. Food grain output for the 2023 kharif season is predicted to fall slightly to 148.56 million tonnes from 155.7 million tonnes the previous year. The monsoon season, which lasted four months from June to September, had "below average" rainfall as El Nino conditions became worse.

While Tamil Nadu experienced flooding as a result of Cyclone Michong, Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Andhra Pradesh experienced drought conditions that negatively impacted kharif crops and farmers' lives.

According to the ministry's preliminary estimates, less rice, maize, moong, oilseeds, sugarcane, and cotton were produced in the 2023 kharif than in the previous year. Production estimates for Rabi crops are still pending.

Ministry officials do anticipate a favorable revision to the kharif food grain output projections by the time the fourth and final estimates are produced.

"Climate change is a reality today," said the Agriculture Secretary. Nonetheless, our agricultural industry has shown resilient in the face of severe weather. Climate-resilient seeds are being promoted by the government. We can accomplish sustainable development in 2023–2024 by taking these steps.anticipating a large crop. PTI was informed by Manoj Ahuja.

He stated that although heat-resistant cultivars had been seeded in more than 60% of the region during the current Rabi season, drought- and flood-tolerant seeds were pushed during the Kharif season.

The Secretary did point out that there is no need to be concerned about this year's slightly reduced projected output of foodgrains for Kharif.

Even though the nation had unpredictable weather last year, the ministry's final assessment indicates that the 2022–2023 crop year (July–June) might see a record food grain output of 329.68 million tons.

But a sharp rise in temperature prompted questions about wheat output the previous year, and in May 2022, exports were prohibited to avoid higher local costs.

Wheat output for 2022–2023 was predicted to reach a record 110.55 million tonnes when the final projections were made public. This was slightly less than the third estimate, which was 107.7 million tonnes last year.

Agriculture Commissioner PK Singh emphasized that this year's wheat planting is proceeding well, saying, "We have further increased the area of wheat under climate-friendly seeds, this will be useful in facing the terminal heat."

The area planted to wheat as of December 22 was 30.86 million hectares, somewhat less than 31.4 million hectares during the same time last year, he added, due to delays in paddy harvesting.

According to him, the government has been providing farmers with weekly warnings to help them get ready for inclement weather.

India has the position of the world's second-largest producer of wheat and rice, which the government directly purchases from farmers to guarantee the minimum support price (MSP), preserve a buffer stock for the purpose of implementing social initiatives, and maintain market conditions. It is applicable to. measures taken to rein down retail inflation.

The administration worked hard to strike a balance between the interests of farmers and consumers ahead of the general elections in 2024. The MSP for rice was raised by Rs 143 this year to Rs 2,183 per quintal, the second-highest rise in the previous ten years, in an attempt to win over farmers. The MSP rise for paddy in 2018–19 was the largest in the previous ten years, at Rs 200 per quintal.

In a same vein, the minimum support price (MSP) of wheat for the 2023–24 crop year was raised by Rs 150 to Rs 2,275 per quintal. This increase was actually made when the administration took office in 2014. Since taking office, the administration headed by Narendra Modi has increased spending by the most amount.

The MSP of oilseeds and pulses was also raised in order to lessen reliance on imports and achieve self-sufficiency. During the International Year of Millet, the government also spared no effort to increase millet cultivation.

Farmers cultivating horticulture crops like tomatoes and onions experienced weather-related difficulties in addition to those farming wheat and rice.

In July, retail prices in most areas of the nation rose to Rs 200 per kg due to unseasonal rains that caused crop damage in several states and created a supply issue. This forced the government to buy tomatoes at subsidized rates for the first time. Prices. Consequently, Delhi's retail tomato prices have stabilized around Rs 30 per kg.

The government exercised caution when it came to onions as well, beginning to sell buffer onions in places where prices had skyrocketed in recent months at subsidized prices. In an effort to increase local supply, the government restricted exports until March of next year after prices exhibited notable variations last month.

Through programs like PM-KISAN, Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY), and Kisan Credit Card, the government continues to help the agricultural community while prioritizing striking a balance between the interests of farmers and consumers.

Additionally, the government has extended the public distribution system's free ration delivery to 81 crore impoverished people for the next five years.