After the record production in grains, now the trends are reversing: move to corn instead of rice!

- If the surplus supply in wheat and rice eases, the burden of subsidy on the government is likely to decrease.

The country is witnessing spectacular progress in the field of grain production. Years ago, domestic production was less than the demand for domestic foodgrains and in that period we had to depend on grain imports. However since then the picture has changed. Years ago the Green Revolution started in the states of the North and that Green Revolution spread across the country. As a result, the country's production of foodgrains increased during that period and its dependence on imports began to decline and we are now in a position to export our foodgrains. Meanwhile, according to the latest data, the country has witnessed a significant increase in the production of wheat, rice, maize, pulses etc. in the agricultural season of 2021-2. Counting in the country from the year 2014-15, such production has been seen to be continuously increasing every year and as a result new records are being created every year. Wheat production in the country was around 105 to 104 lakh tonnes in the agricultural season of 2060-21, but it has increased to around 1112 to 1115 lakh tonnes in the agricultural season of 2021-2. Thus, wheat production in the country has crossed the level of 1.1 million tonnes and a new record has been set in production. However, the country has produced more rice than wheat and rice exports have also risen recently. Earlier, exports of basmati rice were mainly from India but now, in addition to basmati rice, exports of non-basmati (non-basmati) rice have also become widespread recently. Rice production in the country has increased from about 15-16 lakh tonnes in the season of 2020-21 to around 12-150 lakh tonnes in the season of 2021-2. Grain market experts are predicting that rice production is likely to reach a new record level of 1.8 million tonnes in the 206-2 season.

Meanwhile, production of various pulses in the country has also increased but demand for pulses is still higher than domestic production, said sources in the pulses market. The production of various pulses in the country has increased from about 3 to 4 lakh tonnes in the season of 2020-21 to around 5 to 6 million tonnes in the season of 2021-2. As the central government has recently launched a special drive to increase domestic production of pulses and oilseeds, pulses market experts are hoping to increase the production of pulses to 200 lakh tonnes per annum. Experts say that if the annual production of pulses increases to 200 lakh tonnes, the base on imports can be significantly reduced. Meanwhile, as the country's foodgrain production is on the rise, there are indications that the subsidy burden on the government is also increasing and sources in the finance ministry are also expressing concern over this. The purchase of wheat and rice by the government at support prices has been increasing and as a result the burden of subsidy has been increasing. In such an environment, according to agricultural advisors, there is a special need to reduce the production of wheat and rice in the country and increase the production of maize. The production of maize in the country has increased from about 215 to 215 lakh tonnes in 2060-21, but in the season of 2021-2 it has increased to about 3 to 4 lakh tonnes. Agricultural experts are calculating that if the area under maize is increased, then the production of maize can be significantly increased and the export of maize can also be accelerated. Recently, the Telangana government has adopted such a strategy, urging farmers to switch to maize instead of rice in the current Ravi season. Maize production in the country is estimated to have increased by about 2.5 per cent to around 4 to 5 lakh tonnes. Market experts are predicting further increase in domestic maize production following the government's efforts. Consumption of maize at home and in various countries of the world has increased in making different types of dishes and this will increase the production of maize in India, increase the export of maize and increase the foreign exchange earnings in the country and reduce the surplus production of wheat and rice. But it will be light, said agricultural experts. While maize production has increased, the country has seen a decline in sorghum and millet production.