2010-11 crop year provided there is normal monsoon, Planning Commission
member, Mr Abhijit Sen, said on Wednesday.
"Rice output is likely to be over 100 million tonnes this year if Met
department's monsoon forecast comes true," Mr Sen told reporters on the
sidelines of a function.
If production crosses 100 million tonnes, it will be a new record
surpassing the earlier high of 99.18 million tonnes in 2008-09 crop year
(July-June).
Rice production declined to 89.31 million tonnes in 2009-10 crop year
owing to severe drought, which hit almost half of the country.
Sharing his views on allowing wheat and rice export Sen said, "India can
export wheat next year but no subsidies should be provided. If rice
export is allowed then it should be with export tax on the commodity."
The government had banned wheat export in early 2007 and rice export in
April 2008 to increase domestic supplies and curb prices.
According to official estimates, the country has harvested a record
wheat crop of 80.98 million tonnes in 2009-10 crop year (April-June)
against 80.68 million tonnes in the previous year. Though there is a ban
on wheat and non basmati rice export, the government has allowed the
shipments in small quantities to neighbouring countries and African
nations on diplomatic grounds.
Delivering the 17th Dr B P Pal Memorial lecture today, Mr Sen pointed
out that there is a huge gap in technology reaching agricultural fields.
He suggested the government research body Indian Council of Agricultural
Research to identify villages to prove the success of their technology.
"Gap between lab and fields is a great worry for us. If agriculture
needs to keep moving, we must focus on technology that not only
increases yields but also farmers income," he said.
Mr Sen also observed the country's agriculture is running on subsidies,
which is problematic in the long run as it can "mess up with incentives".
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