|
Crop Production data
|
| Crop |
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
2010 Est. |
| Rice |
82.26 |
84.91 |
75.91 |
80.41 |
| Coarse Cereal |
31.89 |
28.54 |
23.64 |
28.23 |
| Pulses |
6.40 |
4.69 |
4.30 |
6.0 |
| All Foodgrain |
120.95 |
118.14 |
103.84 |
114.63 |
| Oilseeds |
20.71 |
17.80 |
15.66 |
17.27 |
| Sugarcane |
348.18 |
285.03 |
277.75 |
346** |
| Cotton* |
25.88 |
22.28 |
23.94 |
33.50 |
| Jute* |
11.21 |
10.36 |
11.29 |
10.28 |
|
| Source: Agriculture ministry(Figures in million tonnes; * million bales) ** Sugar cane Revised Est 346 Mn Tonnes |
In 2007, the total kharif foodgrain harvest was estimated at 120.95 million tonnes, against 114.63 million tonnes projected for the current kharif and 118.14 million tonnes in 2008.
|
Though the pulses output forecast of 6.00 million tonnes in this kharif seems fairly encouraging, being substantially higher than 4.30 million tonnes in 2009 and 4.69 million tonnes in 2008, it still falls short of 6.40 million tonnes in 2007. In fact, this season’s projected level is closer to 6.17 million tonnes of 2003.
|
Similarly, the oilseeds harvest has fallen chronically short of the domestic requirement, necessitating heavy imports. The combined output of nine main kharif oilseeds is foreseen at 17.27 million tonnes. Though this is more than last season’s truncated oilseeds harvest of 15.66 million tonnes, it falls below 17.80 million tonnes produced in 2008 and the record 20.71 million tonnes in 2007.
|
Release food grain reserves to ease global food shortage-IFPRI
|
| The current global food situation could trigger a crisis if countries impose export bans and make panic purchases and if uncontrolled, excessive speculation re-emerges. Countries with large grain stocks (such as China and India) should release some of their reserves to calm down domestic prices and send positive signals to global markets. When distributing public food supplies, it is important to properly target poor people. IFPRI 011010 |
Government has become the biggest hoarder of foodgrain: |
| At present, the international wheat price is hovering at around Rs 16,465 a tonne, much above the domestic prices of Rs 11,125 a tonne. According to the minimum buffer stock norm, the government has to store 21.2 million tonnes of foodgrain. However, the government is currently sitting on 60 million tonnes of foodgrain (as on June 30), around 183 per cent above the minimum buffer stock norm. |
Gulati’s solution to the entire imbalance in procurement, distribution and storage policy is to export the current surplus and earmark the money generated for creating new storage capacities in the country. Basu espouses the idea that India can go into swap deals with countries and sell grains in exchange for return sale after two-three years. B S 051010
|
| Farmers’ suicides: SC says can't monitor agriculture policy |
The Supreme Court on Friday appreciated the cause of highlighting suicides by farmers but said it cannot monitor government's agriculture policy which caters to the entire country. "We cannot monitor all India policy," observed a Bench headed by Chief Justice SH Kapadia while dealing with two PILs seeking review of the agriculture policy in view of suicides by farmers in different states between 2002 to 2007. The Bench noted that after the petition was filed in 2006, an expert committee was appointed which came out with several suggestions which remained unchallenged. fe Bureau Sep 25 2919
|
The production of oilseeds in the country during the last five-years has been hovering at around 24-30 million tonesThe productivity had almost stagnated at around 1,000 kg per hectare during the last five years.
|
"The low production was due to the fact that 80 per cent of area under oilseeds cultivation is rain-fed. Press Trust of India / September 25, 2010
|
| Inflationary pressure: huge outlays on social sector programmes have put more money into the hands of the poor and provided them with some spending power even in the worst of times. While this has pushed up demand for wage goods, the supply of these goods has failed to match the increased demand. B L 300910 |
Food inflation up 16.24%
|
Food inflation increased to 16.24 per cent during the week ended September 25, 2010. Milk prices soared by 24.32 per cent during the week compared to the same period last year, while fruits rose 15.13 per cent.
|
Credit-Deposit ratio -Rural low @ 59%, Metro high @85%
|
At the all–India level, the credit-deposit (C-D) ratio of all scheduled commercial banks (SCB) as on March 31, 2010 stood at 72.7 per cent. . C-D ratio of all scheduled commercial banks in metropolitan centres was the highest (84.9 per cent) followed distantly by rural centres (59.0 per cent) and urban centres (58.8 per cent). The semi-urban centres recorded the lowest C-D ratio at 51.8 per cent.
|
Among the states, the highest C-D ratio was observed in Tamil Nadu (112.6 per cent) and Andhra Pradesh (105.1 per cent). At the bank group level, the C-D ratio was above the all-India ratio in respect of state bank of India and its associates (74.7 per cent) and nationalised banks (72.8 per cent). The C-D ratio of foreign banks (72.7 per cent) was at the all-India ratio. The C-D ratio of other scheduled commercial (72.3 per cent), and regional rural banks (58.6 per cent) were lower than the all SCBs C-D ratio. RBI 290910
|
Banks plan to cover 73,000 villages by 2012
|
| Only 40 per cent of the country's population had a bank account, while 38 per cent of the bank branches remain in the rural areas. Banks have identified 73,000 habitation for provision banking facilities by Mar 2012, through Business correspondent.270810 |
|
