Rabi crop to surpass kharif output this year

Government said on Wednesday that prospects are bright for Indian agri-output in the rabi season and for the first time it will surpass the kharif production, but cautioned extremely low temperatures can adversely affect the grains.

‘‘One thing is for certain, there is no doubt about it, rabi season foodgrain production to be harvested in April-May this year will be higher than the output in the drought affected kharif season,’’ director-general, Indian Council of Agricultural Research Mangala Rai said here. India’s kharif or winter grains output is pegged to fall to 91 million tonnes this season against 111 million tonnes in the previous

year. The country produced 99 millon tonne grains last rabi season and estimates for the current season are yet to be arrived at.