India’s wheat production for the ongoing 2022-23 crop year (July-June) is poised to reach a remarkable milestone, as per the latest data released by the agriculture ministry on Thursday. Despite unseasonal rains, the country is expected to achieve a new record with a projected output of 112.74 million tonnes. This represents an increase of five million tonnes compared to the previous year, driven by expanded acreage and improved yield. The agricultural sector’s resilience and productivity are evident in this impressive feat.
In addition to wheat, there are also estimations of record-breaking outputs in other major crops such as rice, maize, oilseeds, and sugarcane. These projections indicate significant growth and productivity across diverse agricultural sectors.
As per the third estimate, India’s overall foodgrains output for the 2022-23 crop year is anticipated to reach a record high of 330.53 million tonnes. This figure surpasses the actual output of 315.61 million tonnes in the previous crop year. The estimations indicate a significant increase in the country’s overall foodgrains production, showcasing positive growth and agricultural success.
The foodgrain basket encompasses a diverse range of essential crops, including wheat, rice, nutri-coarse cereals, and pulses. These crops collectively form the backbone of India’s food production and contribute significantly to meeting the nation’s nutritional needs.
“The production of wheat in the country is estimated at 112.74 million tonne, which is higher by 5 million tonne as compared to previous year’s production,” the agriculture ministry said.
During the 2021-22 crop year, wheat production experienced a decline to 107.74 million tonnes. This decrease can be attributed to the impact of a heat wave in crucial wheat-growing states. It is worth noting that the previous record for wheat output was achieved during the 2020-21 crop year, with a production of 109.59 million tonnes.
The commencement of wheat sowing, the primary winter crop known as rabi, typically takes place from October onwards. This year, the sowing process began in October, and it is anticipated that harvesting will be completed by June 15.
As per the third estimate, the rice production for the crop year 2022-23 is projected to reach a record high of 135.54 million tonnes, surpassing the previous year’s production of 129.47 million tonnes.
The estimated maize production for the mentioned period is expected to reach a new record of 35.91 million tonnes, surpassing the previous year’s production of 33.73 million tonnes.
The combined production of nutri-coarse cereals, including maize, has experienced a growth, reaching a total of 54.74 million tonnes in the crop year 2022-23. This marks an increase from the previous year’s production of 51.10 million tonnes.
In the case of pulses, the estimated production for the year 2022-23 is slightly higher, reaching 27.50 million tonnes, compared to the previous year’s production of 27.30 million tonnes.
With the exception of gram and moong, the production of tur and urad is projected to be lower in the year 2022-23.
The production of tur is expected to decrease to 3.43 million tonnes compared to the previous year’s 4.22 million tonnes. Similarly, the output of urad is projected to decline to 2.61 million tonnes from 2.77 million tonnes. On the other hand, the production of gram is estimated to remain unchanged at 13.54 million tonnes during the same period.
On the contrary, the production of oilseeds is projected to achieve a new record of 40.99 million tonnes in the 2022-23 crop year. This remarkable growth is primarily due to the increased production of soybean and mustard seeds, surpassing the previous year’s production of 37.96 million tonnes.
The production of soybean is estimated to reach a record high of 14.97 million tonnes, surpassing the previous year’s production of 12.98 million tonnes. Similarly, the output of rapeseed-mustard is expected to set a new record at 12.49 million tonnes, exceeding the 11.96 million tonnes produced in the mentioned period.
Regarding cash crops, the production of sugarcane is projected to reach a record high of 494.22 million tonnes in the crop year 2022-23. This marks a significant increase from the previous year’s production of 439.42 million tonnes.
The estimated cotton production for this year is expected to be higher, reaching 34.34 million bales of 170 kg each. This represents an increase from the 31.11 million bales produced in the 2021-22 crop year.
On the other hand, the production of jute/mesta is projected to be lower, estimated at 9.49 million bales of 180 kg each for the crop year 2022-23. This is a decrease from the previous year’s production of 10.14 million bales.
The government provides a total of four estimates at various stages of crop growth and harvesting before the final estimate is released.