FAO Predicts Reduction In India's Paddy Output

According to the latest estimate by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), India’s rice output is likely to decline by a marginal 2.55 % this year on delayed monsoon and uncertainty over follow-up rain in the agriculturally crucial month of July.

Currently, sowing of kharif coarse grains and paddy for harvest in September is underway in the country. The early outlook for kharif crops is unfavorable because of the delayed southwest monsoon in some major producing regions. By July 2, the all-India cumulative rainfall was 46 per cent below average. However, the final outcome would depend greatly on the development of the monsoon rain in July and August, the report said.

The forecast has meanwhile envisaged a total cereal output at 260.6 MT this year as against 265.4 MT in the previous year.