National Conference on Agriculture for Kharif Campaign- 2023

Tags: National Economy/Finance Summits National News

Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar inaugurated the National Conference on Agriculture for Kharif Campaign 2023-24 on 3rd May at NASC Complex New Delhi. 

An overview of the news

• Agriculture remains the major pulse of the Indian economy and lies at the core of the country's socio-economic development.

• It accounts for about 19 percent of the GDP and about two-thirds of the population is dependent on the agriculture sector.

• India's agriculture sector has been witnessing strong growth with an average annual growth rate of 4.6 percent over the past six years.

• As per the Second Advance Estimates (2022-23), the production of food grains in the country is estimated at 3235 lakh tonnes which is 79 lakh tonnes more than the production of food grains during 2021-22.

The objective of the conference 

• To review and assess the crop performance during the preceding crop seasons. 

• fix crop-wise targets for the Kharif season in consultation with State Governments. 

• ensure supply of critical inputs.

• facilitate adoption of innovative technologies with a view to enhance production and productivity of the crops.  

• Record production is estimated of rice, maize, gram, pulses, rapeseed and mustard, oilseeds and sugarcane.

National target for 2023-24

• In the conference, a national target of 3320 lakh tonnes has been fixed for the total food grain production for the year 2023-24.

• The target of pulses production has been set at 292.5 lakh tonnes as against 278.1 lakh tonnes this year.

• Oilseeds production will be increased from 400 to 440 lakh tonnes in 2023-24.

• Shri Annaaims to increase the total production from 159.1 lakh tonnes in 2022-23 to 170.0 lakh tonnes in 2023-24.