The target for total foodgrain production for 1997-98 was revised to 204 million tonne from 207 million tonne. Earlier, the agriculture ministry had rejected the target set by the Planning Commission at 210 million tonne and worked out to 207 million tonne.

According to the recent estimate, rice production during kharif is likely to be 70.75 million tonne which is about a million tonne lower than the corresponding season's production during last year. However, Punjab, Haryana, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu have fared well in rice production. The production of kharif coarse cereals during 1998-99 is expected to be 24.67 million tonne which is lower by half a million tonne than the previous year. However, the kharif pulses production is likely to be 5.6 million tonne whichis higher by 1.2 million tonne than the previous year.