India’s 2011-12 foodgrain output seen above 257 million tonnes

India has produced 257.44 million tonnes of foodgrains during 2011-12 compared to 244.78 million tonnes in the previous year - the highest ever foodgrains production, latest estimates showed.

The country also achieved record production of rice (104.3 million tonnes), wheat ( 93.9 million tonnes), cotton (35.2 million bales), and sugarcane (357.7 million tonnes) during the year.

The fourth advance estimates, released today, raises foodgrain output by 5 million tones from the earlier projections of 252.56 million tonnes.

The upward revision has been due mainly to a record harvest of wheat, which currently stands at 93.90 million tonnes. India's wheat production stood at 86.87 million tones in the previous year.

Wheat production in 2011-12 has been aided by good rains and a prolonged winter. The government also procured over 38 million tones of wheat during the season.

Production estimates for major crops for 2011-12 are as follows:

• Total foodgrains  –  257.44 million tonnes
• Rice  –  104.32 million tonnes
• Wheat  –  93.90  million tonnes
• Coarse Cereals  –  42.01 million tonnes
• Maize  –  21.57 million tonnes
• Pulses  –  17.21 million tonnes
• Tur  –  2.65 million tonnes
• Urad  –  1.83 million tonnes
• Moong  –  1.71 million tonnes
• Gram      –  7.58 million tonnes
• Oilseeds  –  30.01 million tonnes
• Soyabean  –  12.28 million tonnes
• Groundnut  –  6.93 million tonnes
• Rapeseed & mustard – 6.78 million tonnes
• Cotton  –  35.20 million bales (of 170 kg each)
• Sugarcane – 357.67 million tonnes

Sustaining the record production, however, will be an uphill task for the country. Agriculture minister Sharad Pawar had on Monday admitted that poor monsoon in the current year has posed a challenge to sustain growth in foodgrain production witnessed in the past two years.