Near-normal Rains Promise Bumper Harvest This Year

The monsoon has started withdrawing after delivering near-normal rainfall across the country , setting the stage for a bumper harvest after two years of scanty rainfall that hit farm output and distressed villagers.
The season's total rainfall so far is 5% below average, which is close to the normal range. The government has set a target of record grains production of 270.10 million tonnes in 2016-17 crop year to July. Two consecutive drought years had restricted output to 252-253 mt in the previous two years, down from the 2013-14 production of 265.04 mt.
Pulses production too, is expected to hit a record high this kharif season as the area under pulses cultivation has increased 29% to 14.40 lakh hectare, the minister said.