In a significant milestone for India’s agriculture sector, the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare has reported record-high food grain and horticulture production for the crop year 2022-2023. The final estimates reveal that food grain production has reached a new high, standing at 329.68 million tonnes, marking a 4% increase of 14.1 million tonnes compared to the previous year. Over the past decade, food grain production has witnessed consistent growth, from 257.1 million tonnes in 2012-13 to 315.6 million tonnes in 2021-22.
This remarkable achievement surpasses the previous five years’ average by 30.8 million tonnes, as highlighted by the ministry. Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar emphasized that the horticulture sector is also contributing to this agricultural success, with a projected record production of 351.92 million tonnes in the year 2022-2023, according to the ministry’s second advance estimate.
In terms of specific food grain production estimates for 2022-23:
- Rice: A record production of 135.75 million tonnes has been reported, representing a substantial increase of 6.28 million tonnes compared to the previous year’s output. This figure also surpasses the average rice production of the last five years by 15.36 million tonnes.
- Wheat: A record production of 110.55 million tonnes is estimated for wheat in 2022-23, reflecting an increase of 2.8 million tonnes compared to the previous year’s output. This production level is also 4.8 million tonnes higher than the average wheat production over the last five years.
- Pulses: The total production of pulses during 2022-23 is estimated at 26 million tonnes, which is 1.4 million tonnes higher than the last five years’ average pulses production of 24.6 million tonnes.
- Oilseeds: A record production of 41.35 million tonnes of oilseeds is reported for the crop year 2022-23, signifying a notable increase of 3.39 million tonnes compared to the previous year’s output.
The ministry also highlighted growth in horticultural production:
- Fruits: Fruit production is estimated to have reached 108.34 million tonnes in the year 2022-23, compared to 107.51 million tonnes in the previous year.
- Vegetables: The production of vegetables is estimated at 212.91 million tonnes in the year 2022-23, a rise from the 209.14 million tonnes reported in the previous year.
This robust performance in food grain and horticulture production bodes well for India’s agricultural sector and contributes to the country’s food security. It reflects the hard work of farmers, government policies, and the adoption of modern agricultural practices.
