Modest Improvement in Indian Pulse Output

VANCOUVER - Feb 12/10 - SNS -- The Indian government is less optimistic than the private trade about this season's crop production prospects, expecting only a modest improvement in total pulse production levels.

The Second Advance Estimates released by India's agriculture department pegged total food grain production at 216.85 million metric tons (MT), down 7.5% from last season.

Total pulse output is expected to rise marginally, increasing 1.1% from 14.57 to 14.74 million MT. Wheat production is now forecast to slip from 80.68 to 80.28 million MT; while rice output plunges from 99.1 to 87.56 million MT; and oilseeds sink from 27.71 to 26.32 million MT.

In releasing its estimates, the agriculture department said, "Due to deficient and erratic distribution of rainfall during the last monsoon season, production of Kharif crops, particularly of rice, coarse cereals and sugarcane had been affected adversely. The early trends indicate that during Rabi season the production scenario will be better.

"The foodgrains production during Rabi 2009-10 is expected to exceed the last Rabi season’s production which was an all time record. Contributed by higher Production during Rabi season, total production of pulses during the year is expected to exceed the last year’s level by 0.18 million MT.

"The production of rapeseed and mustard is also expected to be higher by 0.23 million MT, resulting into overall production of Rabi oilseeds exceeding the last year’s level by 0.22 million MT. If weather conditions continue to be favorable, the production of some of the Rabi crops is likely to improve further and the same will be accounted for in the Third Advance Estimates to be released in April, 2010 when more firmed up data from the States would be available."