Govt sets foodgrain production target for 2020-21 at 298 mn tonnes

New Delhi 16 April 16 (IANS) The Central government has targeted foodgrain production for the year 2020-21 at 298 million tonnes against 291.10 million tonnes in 2019-20.

Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Narendra Singh Tomar, said on Thursday that all states should aim to achieve the Kharif target and doubling of farmers’ income should be taken up in mission mode.

Tomar was addressing the National Kharif Conference 2020 via video conferencing.

The main aim of the conference was to discuss the various issues and list out steps in consultation with the states about the preparedness for Kharif cultivation in view of the lockdown situation, Union Agriculture Ministry said in a statement.

Tomar said that the extraordinary situation arising due to the coronavirus outbreak in the country has to be met with a fighting spirit by the agriculture sector and everyone has to rise to the occasion and perform.

He said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has ensured that “Gaon, Garib aur Kisan” (village, poor and farmers) should not suffer during this crisis.

Tomar urged the states that the two schemes — PM Fasal Bima Yojana and Soil Health Card scheme — should be explained to each farmer.

The target of foodgrain production for the year 2020-21 has been fixed at 298.0 million tonnes. During FY 2019-20, against a production target of 291.10 million tonnes, higher production of about 292 million tonnes is anticipated mainly due to enhancement of area coverage and productivity of various crops, said the statement.

Tomar said, “Achieving record foodgrain production is remarkable and I congratulate officers of the ministry and the state governments for working hard for ensuring timely supply of inputs to the farmers along with recent technological advances under various schemes of agriculture and allied sectors.”

–IANS

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