NEW DELHI, June 10: Wheat production during 1997-98 is likely to be 66.38 million tonnes as compared to the target of 68.50 million tonnes, the Lok Sabha was informed today. In written reply to a question, minister of state for agriculture Sompal said action has been taken to import 1.5 million tonnes of wheat following shortfall in targeted production in 1997-98.To another question, Sompal said government fixed maximum support price (MSP) as Rs 455 per quintal of wheat for the 1997-98 crop to be marketed in 1988-89 on basis of the report of the Commission for Agriculture Costs and Prices (CACP), views of state governments, concerned central ministries and other relevant factors.
The government has also decided to pay a bonus of Rs 35 per quintal on sale of wheat to the public agencies for the period from April 1 to 10, June, 1998. To boost production of wheat so as to meet the demand by 2,000 AD, he said implementation of on-going centrally sponsored "integrated cereals development programme in wheatbased cropping system areas (ICDP-wheat)", is proposed to be continued with some modifications during the ninth plan.
Government is also laying emphasis for increase in the total cropped area including that of wheat mainly through increase in the cropping intensity.
DAIRY: The Technology Mission on Dairy Development (TMDD) was introduced in 16 major states and union territories which had comparatively better potential for faster dairy development.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
