Suspense Crime Sach Ka Dam
The central government on Saturday said it is confident of record foodgrain production in the 2024-25 rabi season despite delays in fertilizer shipments. The reason for this expectation was attributed to favorable soil moisture conditions and adequate water levels in reservoirs. Addressing a national conference, Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said that despite delays in import consignments due to geopolitical tensions, there is adequate availability of key fertilizers like urea and diammonium phosphate (DAP). Chauhan said, “Import consignments are getting delayed. However, there is no shortage of fertilizers. We have made arrangements and there is adequate supply for the rabi season.
Sowing of Rabi crops has started.
The ministry has set a target of 164.55 lakh tonne foodgrain production for the rabi season 2024-25, which includes 115 lakh tonnes of wheat and 18.15 lakh tonnes of pulses. Sowing of rabi (winter) crops has begun and will pick up pace after Diwali. Fertilizer Secretary Rajat Kumar Mishra said India is rerouting DAP shipments from Morocco via South Africa after the Red Sea route was disrupted, adding 21 days to supply time to western ports. Mishra said India imports about 60 percent of its 55 lakh tonne DAP demand for the rabi season from Russia, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, and China. Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) Director General Himanshu Pathak expressed optimism about the upcoming season. He said, “Given the water level in reservoirs, IMD forecast, and soil moisture, record production is expected in the rabi season this year.”
Increase the area of gram cultivation.
Pathak advocated the adoption of climate-friendly and bio-fortified seeds. He highlighted that nearly 70 percent of wheat cultivation last year used such varieties, which contributed significantly to the bumper crop. Agriculture Secretary Devesh Chaturvedi stressed the need to increase the area under gram cultivation. He said production remained low in the last two years, necessitating imports. The average area under rabi crops in the last five years was 668 lakh hectares, with wheat accounting for 312 lakh hectares, officials said. The government has announced higher minimum support prices for wheat and other winter-sown crops to encourage planting. The conference was attended by Union Ministers of State for Agriculture Ram Nath Thakur and Bhagirath Chaudhary along with six state agriculture ministers. The officials also discussed digital initiatives, including farmer data registration, with crop surveys currently underway in two states set to be implemented across the country next year.
