Summer crop production to fall 15-20% short: Mukherjee

New Delhi, Aug 27 (PTI) India's farm production in the
Kharif season could fall by 15-20 per cent due to poor monsoon
that has resulted in drought situation in 252 districts in ten
states, Finance Minister of India Pranab Mukherjee said on
Thursday.

"For impact of production on the Kharif crop, exact
quantum will be known only when the harvesting starts. But
from the picture of sowing, one can easily estimate that there
is likelihood of a shortfall to the extent of 15-20 per cent,"
he said at a Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and
Industry (FICCI) conference.

So far, 252 districts in ten States have been declared
affected by drought, he said. "Drought is there, rainfall
deficiency is to the extent of 26 per cent".

Till August 21, 246 districts were declared as drought
affected, out of the 600-plus districts in the country.

Mukherjee said: "We have certain areas of concern like
drought, inflationary pressure, government borrowing and its
consequences on long term funding of corporate sector".

On August 19, Agriculture Minister of India Sharad Pawar
had said that rice production could fall by 10 million tonnes
in Kharif (summer-sown crop) season. "Some shortfall in
production of oilseeds and sugarcane is also expected," he had
said.

India produced 117.7 million tonnes of foodgrains in
Kharif season last year, of which 84.58 million tonnes was
rice. PTI BSP
SDE


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