Govt plans new crop insurance scheme

According to official sources, the conference also reviewed the production prospects during the 1997-98 crop year and finalised strategies for the coming season. It was pointed out thatdespite inclement agro-climatic conditions, the production of foodgrains was satisfactory.

Though the onset of monsoon was delayed in 1997-98, overall rainfall was slightly above normal. This had caused some setback in the production of coarse cereals, cotton and oilseeds in certain parts, especially Andhra Pradesh and Maharasthra.

There was also abnormality in the post monsoon season on account of intermittent rains and prolonged cloudy weather at the end of last year, which delayed the sowing of wheat and other rabi crops. In certain parts there there was need to resow the wheat crop.

Despite these, the foodgrain production in the current year is expected to be around 195 million tonnes in 1997-98 which is 4 million tonnes lower than the record production of 1996-97. Rice, however, has done exceptionally well with an expected production figure of 83.5 million tonnes which is an all time record.

Pulse and coarse cereals have suffered and their production is expected to be around 13 and 31.2 milliontonnes respectively. Wheat production is around 66.5 million tonnes, about 3 million tonnes less that the record set in 1996-97.

The adverse agro-climatic conditions had a pronounced impact on commercial crops. The production of nine major oilseeds in 1997-98 is expected to drop bou a million tonne to 24 million tonnes. The production of groundnut and rapeseed and mustard is expected to be around 8 and 6 million tonnes compared to 9 and 7 million tonnes in 1996-97.

The promising feature is oilseed production was the record of 6.5 million tonnes of soyabean. Sugarcane is likely to be about 260 million tonnes, about 17 million tonnes lower than the previous year.

The major setback is in cotton production which has slumped to 11.4 million bales as compared to 14.3 million bales achieved in 1996-97.