The production was, however, higher by 30,000 tonnes compared with 102.67 million tonnes produced during the last kharif season, an official release said here today. As per the estimates, made at the two-day National Conference on Agriculture for rabi campaign 1999-2000 which ended yesterday, kharif rice production is estimated at a record 74.90 million tonnes against a target of 74.50 million tonnes.

Last year, kharif rice production was 71.84 million tonnes. The higher estimate of rice production is despite a fall in area of rice coverage in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka due to failure of South West monsoon. The estimates project a sharp fall in oilseed production to 12 million tonnes against 16.3 million tonnes last year and a target of 16.5 milliontonnes.

Oilseeds production have suffered a setback owing to fall in area under soyabean in Madhya Pradesh and poor rainfall in groundnut growing areas of Kutch and Saurashtra in Gujarat and parts of Andhra Pradesh. Soyabean output is estimated to 5.9 million tonnes against seven million tonnes last year, mainly in view of decline in prices for the oilseed last year.

The release said soyabean production would still be higher than normal output of the oilseed. Groundnut production has also been estimated to decline from 7.1 million tonnes last year to 4.5 million tonnes.

Coarse cereals production has been put at 22.30 million tonnes, a decline from last year's kharif output of 24.72 million tonnes. Government had set a target of 27 million tonnes. Production of coarse cereals is mainly down in view off all in area under jowar and bajra by 3.5 lakh hectars. However, area under maize is projected to have increased by 2.2 lakh hectares.

Pulses production has also been projected at a lower 5.57 milliontonnes compared with last years kharif output of 6.11 million tonnes. The kharif target set this year was 6.10 million tonnes. However, toor dal production was expected to be at last years level of 2.7 million tonnes.

Cotton production has been estimated at 12.5 million bales (of 170 kg) against 12.8 million bales last year. Cotton production decline is mainly due to farmers in North India preferring rice over cotton, which had been hit by unseasonal rains and pest attack during the last couple of years.

Jute and mesta crop had also been projected to decline during this kharif season to 9.4 million bales from 9.8 million bales last year. This is mainly due to drought in parts of West Bengal.

One of the bright spots of the estimate is rise in sugarcane production to 305 million tonnes from 291 million tonnes mainly due to rise in area of cultivation. The release said the assessments were subject to revision on account of more precise information "flowing over the time"

The second crop assessment wouldbe prepared in January with more precise information on kharif and preliminary information on rabi. The third update of the assessment would coincide with national conference on agriculture for kharif campaign generally convened in mid-April and the fourth update at the time of National workshop on improvement of agricultural statistics in early June after rabi harvest at the end of may. Final estimates would be available in October-November after all information was received, the release added.