India Forecasts Smaller Kharif Pulse Harvest

VANCOUVER - Sep 14/11 - SNS -- This year's kharif or monsoon pulse crop is expected to be down almost 10% from last year's revised 7.12 million metric tons (MT) harvest, according to the first advance estimate of the 2011-12 crop production released by India's agriculture department.

The first advance estimate just looks at kharif season production and does not try to estimate how many acres will be planted during the coming rabi or winter season production cycle. Seeding of rabi season crops will start next month and continue into the new year.

In releasing the latest numbers, India's Agriculture Minister Shri Sharad Pawar said total foodgrain production reached a record 241.6 million MT in 2010-11, with wheat, pulses, oilseeds and cotton setting individual records. While pulse production will likely decline in 2011-12, India wants total foodgrain production to expand further to at least 245 million MT.

Pawar said, "The monsoon this year has been very encouraging so far, with timely and widespread rain all over the country. Good rainfall is resulting in increased soil moisture which together with adequate water availability in reservoirs across the country is definitely going to provide necessary impetus for substantial expansion in area and enhancing production during ensuing Rabi season."