After the increase in grain production in the country, now efforts are being made to increase the crop of oilseeds and pulses

- Ubhi Bazar ઃ Dilip Shah

The equations in the field of grain production in the country are changing. Years ago, production in the country was declining against the demand for foodgrains and in the meantime we had to rely on overseas foodgrain imports to meet domestic demand. However, in the ensuing period, with the onset of the Green Revolution, the country's foodgrain production began to grow and its dependence on imports waned, leading to a situation where we are exporting foodgrains, said grain market insiders. Meanwhile, in the season of 2020-21, we have set a new record in this field. Despite disruptions such as the Corona and Lockdown, the country's grain production has continued unabated. Progress is being maintained in the country especially in the production of wheat and rice. In the country, the production of foodgrains has increased from 205 to 206 lakh tonnes in the season of 2020-21. This is considered a new record. According to market sources, the country's foodgrains production has increased by about 1.1 million tonnes in the 2030-21 season as compared to the production in the 2013-2014 season. During this period, rice production in the country has increased from 115 to 115 lakh tonnes to around 15-16 lakh tonnes. While the production of wheat has increased from 105 to 105 lakh tonnes in this period, a new history has been created. In addition to wheat and rice, there are indications that progress is being made in the production of various oilseeds and pulses. The total production of various pulses has increased from 20 to 21 lakh tonnes to around 3 to 4 lakh tonnes while the production of oilseeds has increased from 3 to 4 lakh tonnes to around 20 to 21 lakh tonnes during this period. There are also indications of progress in the production of various coarse grains. The production of coarse grains has increased by about 4 to 5 lakh tonnes and reached around 311 to 215 lakh tonnes. In this field sorghum, millet, maize, barley etc. Cereals are included. Maize production has increased from 4 to 5 lakh tonnes to around 215 to 215 lakh tonnes. Soybean production has increased from 115 to 115 lakh tonnes to 15 to 120 lakh tonnes.

Chickpea crop of 115 to 120 lakh tonnes and Rayada-mustard crop of 101 to 105 lakh tonnes are being banned. Last year, the chickpea crop was recorded at 110 to 111 lakh tonnes while the rye-mustard crop was recorded at 31 to 5 lakh tonnes last year.

"Domestic production is still low compared to domestic demand in terms of oilseeds as the country's grain production has increased and in such an environment we have to import various edible oils from overseas," oil market sources said. The country currently imports palm oil, soyoil oil, sunflower oil etc. However, the government now plans to increase domestic production of palm oil. If palm oil production in the country increases, a strategy has been adopted to reduce overseas imports and save foreign exchange. Although earlier attempts were made to develop palm cultivation at home, especially in South India, such efforts were not as successful at that time. However, now that such efforts have resumed, the market is keeping an eye on how successful such efforts are. The government has set a budget of about Rs 11,000 crore for this. About 3 to 4 per cent of the edible oils imported into India are palm oil. Such imports are mainly from Malaysia and Indonesia. In India, we have become self-sufficient in terms of wheat, rice, sugar etc. and now we have started efforts to make the country self-sufficient in this field by increasing the production of oilseeds and pulses at home. The country has set a target of increasing the total production of various pulses by 50 per cent in the next six years. The country has become more active in increasing the production of various agricultural products at home using high yielding seeds and advanced farming technology. However, there has been a growing controversy recently over how and how to use GM seeds and non-GM seeds in such seeds.