Agriculture Ministry says weak monsoon will reduce Kharif output by 1.78 percent

New Delhi: The Ministry of Agriculture has said that deficient monsoon rains this year will result in a 1.78 percent decline in the country’s Kharif food grain production.

It said that 124.05 million tons of foodgrain could be expected as opposed to 126.31 million tons during the last Kharif season.

Releasing the first advance estimates for Kharif crops, the ministry said cumulative rainfall during the current monsoon season has been deficient by 15 percent.

As per the first estimate, rice output is projected to decline to 90.61 million tons in the 2015-16 Kharif season against 90.86 million tons in the same season of previous year.

The pulses output is also estimated to decline to 5.56 million tons from 5.63 million tons.

Oilseed production is likely to increase to 19.89 million tons compared to 18.32 million tons last year. (ANI)