1. NATIONAL CONFERENCE ON AGRICULTURE (KHARIF CAMPAIGN-2018)
RABI REVIEW
AND
KHARIF PROSPECTS
Dr. S K Malhotra
Agriculture Commissioner
Department of Agriculture, Cooperation & Farmers Welfare,
Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare

2. AREA AND PRODUCTION OF CROPS IN 2017-18 Second estimates
Area (Million hectare)
Production (Million ton)
Kharif
Rabi
Total
Rice
38.8
4.1
42.9
96.4
14.5
111.0
Wheat -
30.0
97.1
Sorghum
1.9
3.0
4.9
2.0
2.7
4.7
Bajra
7.1
9.3
Maize
7.7
1.6
19.5
7.6
27.1
Ragi
1.2
Small millets
0.5
0.4
Barley
0.7
Total Coarse cereals
18.4
5.4
23.8
33.2
12.3
45.4
Total Pulses
13.7
15.1
28.8
8.8
23.9
Total food grains
71.0
54.6
125.6
138.5
139.0
277.5
Total oil seeds
17.2
7.3
24.5
20.4
9.5
29.9

3. RAINFALL - RABI SEASON (mm)
METEOROLOGICAL SUBDIVISIONS
POST-MONSOON, 2017
( to )
WINTER
( to )
MARCH, ONWARD
( to )
ACTUAL
NORMAL
% DEP.
EAST & NORTH EAST INDIA
199.7
171.4
17%
23.1
55.8
-59%
88.8
127.7
-30%
NORTH WEST INDIA
27.7
62.7
-56%
25.3
77.6
-67%
43.6
67.5
-35%
CENTRAL INDIA
72.3
79.6
-9%
6.7
15.9
-58%
14.2
15.1
-6%
SOUTH PENINSULA
242.4
273.3
-11%
8.7
15.2
-43%
43.4
28.5
52%
COUNTRY AS A WHOLE
112.3
127.2
-12%
15.4
41.4
-63%
40.9
52.0
-21%

4. WEATHER SCENARIO (RABI 2017-18)
Monsoon rainfall was normal during 2017.
Sept.-Oct. rainfall in Maharashtra, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Tamilnadu helped in coverage of area under rabi rice, oilseeds, coarse cereals & pulses.
Temperature during Feb.-March was conducive for crop growth & farmers reaped increased productivity.
Western disturbances caused hailstorm/rains/winds in small areas in a few states (Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra and Himachal Pradesh).

5. PLANNING FOR KHARIF 2018 Forecast of IMD on Monsoon (16 April 2018):
Monsoon rainfall is likely to be 97% of the Long Period Average (LPA) with a error of ±5%, which is considered as favourable.
Preparedness for all the possible scenarios:
Delayed onset
Prolonged dry spells
Early withdrawal
Less rainfall
Excess rainfall
Contingency plan for 623 districts is ready
(ICAR-CRIDA)

6. CROP STRATEGIES: WE NEED TO PROMOTE
Higher coverage : Summer Moong & Urd.
Pulses as intercrop with: Soybean, Sugarcane, Nutri-Cereals (Millets), Cotton etc.
Nutri-Cereals in rain-fed and marginal lands.
Arhar (Red gram) on bunds or transplanted.
Ridge Furrow system and Broad Bed Furrow system.
Minor pulses [cowpea, mothbean, horse gram (kulthi), faba bean, Lathyrus (khesari) and rajmash] and Oilseeds (sesame, linseed castor and niger).

7. Production (million ton)
STRATEGIES FOR RICE
Production (million ton)
(2nd estimates)
Target
Kharif
Rabi
Total
96.5
14.5
111 98 15
113
Line Transplanting & Machine Transplanting
Direct seeded Rice (DSR)
Drum seeder for wet bed
System of Rice Intensification (SRI)
Promotion of hybrids
Tolerant varieties for water stress, salinity, submergence (flood tolerant)
Nutrient and pest management

8. Production (million ton)
STRATEGIES FOR PULSES
Production (million ton)
(2nd estimates)
Target
Kharif
Rabi
Total
8.8
15.1
23.9
8.9
24.0
Seed treatment, inoculation with Rhizobium and PSB culture.
Application of recommended dose of fertilizers based on Soil Health Card.
Micro-nutrients as per requirement.
Amelioration with lime in acidic soils.
Gypsum as source of sulphur.
Weed management.
Pest surveillance and integrated pest management (bio-pesticides & pheromone trap etc.).

9. STRATEGIES FOR OILSEEDS
Production (million ton)
(2nd estimates)
Target
Kharif
Rabi
Total
20.5
9.5
30.0
25.5
10.5
36.0
Intercrop with pulses/cotton/coarse cereals.
Broad Bed Furrow and Ridge Furrow techniques for crop and water management.
Improved varieties of soybean, groundnut, sesame, sunflower and hybrid of castor.
Seed treatment with rhizobium (soybean/groundnut) and PSB culture.
Replacement of upland/low yielding paddy area with oilseeds.
Introduction of soybean in non-traditional areas – Bihar, Jharkhand and Odisha.
Addressing whitefly, YMV & deficient rainfall.
Mitigating shortage of soybean seed (93170 kg shortage)
Untimely rain during harvesting damaged seed crop in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Telangana.
Farmer saved seed can be used with seed treatment.
Sowing with dibbling method on raised broad beds.

10. Production (million ton)
STRATEGIES FOR COTTON
Production (million ton)
(2nd estimates)
Target
34.0
35.5
Management of cotton whitefly
Ensure timely sowing (upto 15th May).
Regular monitoring.
Select tolerant varieties/hybrids.
Application of recommended dose of fertilizer, avoid excessive urea application.
Use of recommended pesticides/preferably IPM.
Management of pinkboll worms (PBW)
Procure and sow authentic BG-II hybrids, preferably short duration.
Follow recommended protection measures/IPM. Do not extend crop beyond January.
Monitoring PBW using pheromone traps.
Maintain cleanliness - follow plant residue management.

11. SUBMISSION ON NUTRICEREALS-STRATEGIES
Production (million ton)
(2nd estimates)
Target
Kharif
Rabi
Total
13.7
2.7
16.4
14.5
2.8
17.3
Millets named as NUTRI-CEREALS
Celebration of year 2018 as: National Year of Millets
Implementation of Submission on Nutri-cereals
Breeder and certified seed production
Seed distribution
Cluster demonstrations
Integrated nutrient management
Integrated pest management
Farm implements
Water saving technologies : Sprinkler
Value chain integration of small producers
Formation of FPO,s/COE/Processing clusters
Capacity building of farmers
14 states, 202 districts, and

12. NEW INITIATIVES Created 150 seed hubs for pulses at KVKs and SAUs.
Seed mini kits of pulses.
Proposed 30 seed hubs for nine oilseed crops.
Enhancement of breeder seed production at ICAR & SAUs.
Sub-Mission on Nutricereals under NFSM (14 states 202 districts).
Cluster frontline demonstrations through KVKs.
Bringing 1.5 million ha area of rice fallow under Pulses & oilseeds cultivation per year up to (Total target : 4.5 million ha in 3 years).
Additional ha to be covered under oil palm in 3 years upto
Revamped NFSM for & : Increased incentives & flexibility to states (Enhancement of seed subsidy, Local initiatives).
National Demonstration Project for promotion of Farmer Producer Organization (FPO’s)- Value chain development of pulses and millets started: 115 FPO’s in 11 states proposed.

13. REQUIREMENT & AVAILABILITY OF SEEDS FOR KHARIF CROPS 2018 (Quintals)
S.N
Crops Group
Crop
Requirement
Availability
Surplus/Deficit 1
Cereals
Paddy
947951
Maize
946 2
Nutri-Cereals
Bajra
228733
252138
23405
Jowar
144031
201834
57803
Ragi
27707
45912
18205 3
Pulses
Arhar
282044
294574
12530
Urd
216529
299253
82724
Moong
196457
296526
100069
Cowpea
22837
22693
-144
Moth
20000
22144
2144 4
Oilseeds
Groundnut
34191
Soybean
-93170
Sunflower
15302
17913
2611
Sesame
20923
24784
3861

14. REQUIREMENT & AVAILABILITY OF FERTILIZERS FOR KHARIF: 2018
(Lakh Tonnes)
Fertilizers
KHARIF: 2017
KHARIF: 2018
Assessed requirement
Total sales
Urea
151.19
147.41
158.00
DAP
47.91
43.75
49.20
MOP
17.20
17.61
20.25
NPK
47.73
40.78
49.73
SSP
25.90
17.87
26.25
Use of Bio-fertilizers, Neem Coated urea, Use of Micro-nutrients
Source: INM & FMS, DAC, GOI

15. Tentative Targets: Kharif-2018
Kharif 2018
Rabi
Total
Crops
Production (million ton)
Wheat -
100
Rice
98.00 15
113
Jowar
2.10
2.80
4.9
Bajra
9.50
9.5
Maize
19.8
7.50
27.3
Ragi
2.30
2.3
Small Millets
0.60
0.6
Barley
2.1
Total Coarse Cereals
34.30
12.4
46.7
Total Pulses
8.9
15.1
24.0
Total Foodgrains
140.20
142.5
283.7
Total Oilseeds
25.5
10.5
36.0
Cotton - million bales (1 bale=170 kgs)
35.5
Sugarcane (million ton)
355.0

16. PROSPECTS & RETROSPECTS
Timely arrangement and positioning of inputs
Seeds, fertilizers, micronutrients, agro-chemicals, machinery and funds for various schemes.
Timely sowing of crops & raising nursery of paddy.
Timely crop insurance cover.
Effectively implementation of flagship scheme: PMKSY, PMKY, PMFBY,
RKVY (CDP, BGREAI), E NAM, Submission on Mechanization,
NMSA, MIDH, NFSM.
Weekly video conferencing for reviewing crop situation , input
availability and follow up.
Preparedness for all possible scenarios : Contingency plan (623 districts).
Coordination meeting with line departments (credit, power, irrigation).
Mobilizing extension staff for field deployment Convergence with ATMA,
NFSM and other schemes.
Active involvement of SAUs/KVKs in scheme implementation
Technical backstopping cluster demonstration, capacity building.
Effective monitoring and feed back.
Implementation of Direct Beneficiary Transfer (DBT).
Aspirational districts: 115 districts – District Action Plan.

17. With advance planning and implementation we will achieve the targets