Food grain production drops in FY 2023-24 despite record wheat and rice output: Third Advance Estimate

By: Team India Tracker

It is estimated that India produced 3,288.52 lakh tonnes of food grain in 2023–24, which is less than the 3,296.87 lakh tonnes of food grain in 2022–23

The agriculture ministry announced the third advance estimates of output of food grains on Tuesday, June 4, 2024. It is estimated that India produced 3,288.52 lakh tonnes of food grain in 2023–24, which is less than the 3,296.87 lakh tonnes of food grain in 2022–23.

The total amount of food grain produced was estimated to be 3,296.87 lakh tonnes based on the final projections of major crop output given for the year 2022–2023. In terms of commodities, the total production of rice is projected to be 1,367.00 lakh tonnes, up 9.45 lakh tonnes from 1,357.55 lakh tonnes in 2022–2023. An estimated 1,129.25 lakh tonnes of wheat were produced, an increase of 23.71 lakh tonnes over the previous year. The predicted 174.08 lakh tonnes of millets (often referred to as Shree Anna) produced is a little increase of 0.87 lakh tonnes from 2022–2023. The estimated output of coarse or nutri cereals is 547.34 lakh tonnes, which is 46.24 lakh tonnes more than the average production of coarse or nutri cereals.

Tur is expected to be produced at a rate of 33.85 lakh tonnes, somewhat more than the 33.12 lakh tonnes produced the previous year by 0.73 lakh tonnes. Estimated lentil production is 17.54 lakh tonnes, 1.95 lakh tonnes more than the 15.59 lakh tonnes produced the year before. Estimates for soybean, rapeseed, and mustard output are 130.54 lakh tonnes and 131.61 lakh tonnes, respectively, higher than last year's production by 5.18 lakh tonnes. An estimated 325.22 lakh bales (170 kg each) of cotton and 4,425.22 lakh tonnes of sugarcane are produced annually.

Source: Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare

The State Agricultural Statistics Authorities (SASAs) provided the information that was principally used to produce this estimate. The information obtained from remote sensing, the Weekly Crop Weather Watch Group, and other sources has been used to verify and triangulate the data that was received. Additionally, while preparing the estimates, the weather, past trends, price changes, mandi arrivals, etc. are taken into account.

About 55 percent of India's population makes agriculture their primary source of income, making it one of the world's leading agricultural nations. India is the world's largest producer of milk, pulses, and spices. It also has the largest area cultivated with wheat, rice, and cotton, as well as the largest herd of cattle (buffaloes). Producing fruit, vegetables, tea, farmed fish, cotton, sugarcane, wheat, rice, cotton, and sugar, it ranks second in the world. About half of India's workforce is employed in the agriculture industry, which is home to the second-largest agricultural acreage in the world. As a result, farmers play a crucial role in the industry that gives us food. 

The Government of India has taken several steps to boost the food grain production in the country. The National Food Security Mission (NFSM) was established in 2007–08 with the goals of expanding agricultural acreage and improving productivity in order to boost rice, wheat, and pulse output; improving the farm level economy; and restoring soil fertility and productivity. Under NFSM, coarse cereals were covered from 2014 to 2015.

With an aim of producing an additional 25 million tonnes of food grains by the conclusion of the XII Plan, consisting of 10 million tonnes of rice, 8 million tonnes of wheat, 4 million tonnes of pulses, and 3 million tonnes of coarse cereals, the mission was carried out throughout the 12th Five Year Plan. Beyond the 12^th Plan, the mission was continued with new additional targets of 13 million tonnes of food grains comprising 5 million tonnes of rice, 3 million tonnes of wheat, 3 million tonnes of pulses and 2 million tonnes of nutri-cum-coarse cereals from 2017-18 to 2019-20.

In spite of multiple efforts taken by the government towards boosting the production of food grains in India, the food grain production has dropped in the FY 2023-24.