India may witness record foodgrains production in the 2010-11 crop year, surpassing the previous high of 234.47 million tonnes seen in 2008-09, due to an increase in the acreage under cultivation in the ongoing rabi season, a top Agriculture Ministry official said on Tuesday. "It is very much achievable. Any fall in rice production from 2008-09 levels can be compensated by higher production of wheat, pulses and coarse cereals," Agriculture Secretary...

With fresh arrivals of onions from Gujarat, Rajasthan and Maharashtra, Central agencies on Monday announced their decision to sell them through their outlets at Rs. 35 a kg, setting it as a benchmark price. The variety, however, was poor in quality and low in quantity. In the retail open market and retail chains, onion prices remained around Rs. 50 a kg, garlic price was unchanged between Rs. 250 and Rs. 280...

The government on Tuesday said wheat production will touch a record 82 million tonnes in the current rabi season despite “some damage” to the crop in unprecedented rains this year. “We are targeting 82 million tonnes of wheat production for the current season. I admit there is some damage due to rains, but productivity has also increased at the same time. Hence, there will be no impact on overall production,” Agriculture...

Retail prices of onions continued to remain high on Tuesday even as a ban on exports led to a 30% fall in wholesale rates. The government, however, cautioned that retail prices would fall from current exorbitant levels (of Rs 75-80 per kg) only after three weeks. But prices are expected to return to the last month's reasonable levels (Rs 20-25 per kg) across the country only in March, when the...

FAO has warned that 2011 may witness a global food crisis. Proactive action is needed to meet the challenge of price volatility, chronic hunger, agrarian despair and climate change. The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) has alerted developing countries about possible steep rises in food prices during 2011, if steps are not taken immediately to increase significantly the production of major food crops. According to FAO, “with...