Govt Sets Food-grain Output Target At Record High Of 30.1 Crore Tonnes For Crop Year 2020-21

The nation is set to witness unprecedented and record food-grain production at a record 30.1 crore tonnes in the ongoing 2020-21 crop year (July-June) as per the Government's target, reports Economic Times.

The rise in foodgrain production comes on the back on good monsoon rains and higher acreage in the Kharif season. In the previous crop year, the production achieved stood at little over 29.6 crore tonnes.

The target for the crop year 2020-21 was announced by Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmer's Welfare Narendra Singh Tomar while addressing the National Conference for Rabi Campaign 2020. The conference was held to review the progress of the Kharif season and to plan for the Rabi season.

At the conference, Tomar lauded the farming community and the States for achieving higher sowing in the Kharif season despite COVID-19 pandemic and lockdowns. As of 11 September, the Kharif sowing acreage stood at 1,113 hectares, which is 46 lakh hectares higher than the normal.

Meanwhile, Tomar also emphasised that the government will continue the practice of procurement at minimum support price (MSP) through the existing network.