Drought pulls down foodgrain output by 13 pc

Severe drought in several states has caused an unprecedented 13 per cent dip in the foodgrain production for 2002-03. It has declined to 184...

Severe drought in several states has caused an unprecedented 13 per cent dip in the foodgrain production for 2002-03. It has declined to 184.06 million tonnes, an all-time low, as against 212.03 million tonnes the previous year.

The Agricultural Ministry has, however, assured there was no threat to the country’s food security as the stock was well above the buffer stock level.

‘‘Despite the decline in the foodgrains production as a result of the worst drought of the century last year, there is no room for concern as the foodgrain stock continues to be well above the buffer stock norms ensuring country’s food security,’’ the Secretary, Agriculture, R.C.A. Jain, said.

According to the third advance estimates released today, the 28 million tonne dip in output comes a year after the record production of 212.03 million tonnes in 2001-02. The oilseeds crop has been worst affected.

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