Data released by the ministry forecasts record wheat output of 70.63 million tonnes. There is a sharp improvement over last year's 65.90 million tonnes. The record wheat output was in 1996-97 at 69.35 million tonnes in 1996-97.

A new record is also forecast for rice production this year at 84.48 million tonnes, up from 82.3 million tonnes last year.

The output of pulses is forecast at 15.19 million tonnes, up from last year's 13.07 million tonnes and the previous record of 14.26 million tonnes in 1990-91.

These estimates were finalised at the kharif crop conference that ended here last evening. Record oilseeds production at 25.30 million tonnes this year is an improvement over the 1996-97 figure of 24.38 million tonnes and a substantial increase over last year's 22.02 million tonnes.

Thegroundnut crop at 8.78 million tonnes (7.85 million tonnes last year), rapeseed-mustard at 6.44 million tonnes (4.71 million tonnes last year), soyabean at 6.77 million tonnes (6.53 million tonnes last year) have all increased.

Sugarcane production too is estimated at a record 282.68 million tonnes, up from 276.25 million tonnes last year.

The only categories to have seen a decline in production are coarse grains, jute and mesta. Coarse grains output is forecast at 30.58 million tonnes, down from last year's 31.16 million which was itself far lower than the previous best of 36.59 million tonnes in 1992-93. Jute and mesta output is also expected to be lower at 9.76 million bales from last year's 11.12 million bales and previous best of 12.65 million bales in 1985-86.

Cotton production at 13.28 million bales is more than last year's 11.14 million bales, but below the previous best of 14.23 million bales of 1996-97.

An official spokesman clarified on Wednesday that there was no difference in theAgriculture Ministry and Finance Ministry estimates of foodgrains production. The latter uses Agriculture Ministry data, based on figures supplied on January 1, for the pre-Budget Economic Survey.