4Foodgrain output down by 7% in 2009-10 |
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The total foodgrain output will fall to 218.19 million tonnes in the 2009-10 season (including Kharif and Rabi) from the record 234.47 million tonnes in 2008-09, according to the third advance estimate. |
Nevertheless, the country's wheat production is estimated to beat the previous year's record of 80.68 million tonnes, reaching 80.98 million tonnes in 2009-10. |
However, the output of rice, grown mainly in the Kharif season, is expected to fall to 89.31 million tonnes from 99.18 million tonnes in the review period. Production of coarse cereals, on the other hand, is set to decline by over 17 per cent, to 33.13 million tonnes from 40.03 million tonnes. |
The pulses output is projected to increase marginally to 14.77 million tonnes from 14.57 million tonnes. The production of oilseeds, however, is expected to decline to 25.40 million tonnes against last year's 27.71 million tonnes. |
Sugarcane production is expected to fall to 274.65 million tonnes from 285.02 million tonnes. Cotton production has been projected at 254.07 lakh bales (of 170 kg) against 277.19 lakh bales this year.
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| Sugar output may top 25 m tonnes next season |
The country's sugar production during the next season beginning October could be upwards of 25 million tonnes (mt), Rabobank has projected. The projection is against the 19 mt estimated to be produced this season. Till April, sugar mills are reported to have produced 18 mt.
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“Early estimates for 2010/11 sugar production is currently at 25 mt, but the range of estimates varies widely, with some market participants estimating production could reach as high as 30 mt,” the bank said in its monthly report on agri commodities. BL 110510
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Industrial growth at 10.4% for FY 10
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Industrial output maintained its double-digit growth for the sixth consecutive month at 13.5 per cent in March, but was lower than expected. For the fiscal 2009-10, the industry grew by 10.4 per cent against 2.8 per cent in the previous financial year, according to the Index of Industrial Production. |
Improving water availability for dry land cultivation key to increase farm production
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Nearly 80 million hectares, out of the country’s net sown area of around 143 million hectares, lack irrigation facilities and, hence, rely wholly on rain water for crop growth. Over 85 per cent of the pulses and coarse cereals, more than 75 per cent of the oilseeds and nearly 65 per cent of cotton are produced from such lands. The crop yields are quiet low. The available records indicated that the predominantly rain-fed tracts experience three to four droughts every 10 years. Of these, two to three droughts are generally of moderate intensity and one is severe.
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Rise in farmer's income is about 35 per cent on account of Farm ponds
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| The Maharashtra Government's ambitious project of setting up one lakh farm ponds across the State this year has received good response. More than 50,000 ponds will be constructed before the onset of this monsoon. |
| Of the budgeted outlay of Rs 300 crore, about Rs 160 crore has already been disbursed to farmers, a senior official with the State Government said. |
| The ponds are being set up in order to create a captive source of water for the farmer in his own farm, besides enhancing the groundwater level. |
| “It has been observed that because of a farm pond, the rise in farmer's income is about 35 per cent. On an average Rs 40,000 is given as a one time grant to the farmer. Money is not paid in advance but only after the completion of the construction activity,” the official said’. BL 100510 |
| 20 lakh bogus ration cards removed |
| The A.P government has concluded the integrated survey on white ration cards, an exercise that resulted in the removal of as many as 20 lakh cards which were found bogus. With this, the number of white ration cards on which rice is supplied at a subsidised price of Rs. 2 a kg has been reduced to 1.86 crore. The removal of the 20 lakh white ration cards will save 40,000 tonnes of rice a month. |
| AP credit plan outlay goes up Rs 10,200 cr |
| The State-Level Banking Committee (SLBC) of Andhra Pradesh has proposed an increase of about Rs 10,200 crore for the State Credit Plan for 2010-11 to Rs 65,763 crore under the priority sector.
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Last fiscal, the proposed credit plan size was Rs 55,500 crore, but the committee of bankers had surpassed this to reach the level of Rs 56,921 crore.
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Of the total proposed plan size, the committee has earmarked Rs 26,261 crore for crop loans, Rs 15,652 crore for agriculture term loans and allied activities, Rs 8,150 crore for non-farm sector and Rs 15,700 crore for other priority sector. |
| It has identified provision of banking facilities in under-banked areas, financial inclusion and financing of tenant farmers as the thrust areas for the current fiscal.
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The lending to the SHG sector had been only at Rs 6,501 crore, which was 72 per cent of the target of Rs 9,000 crore for the fiscal. Reasons have to be analysed and suitable corrective steps taken in order to achieve the target of Rs 11,775 crore for this year,
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| KRSR/150510 |
