Kolkata: National Collateral Management Services Limited ( NCML ), a leading agriculture post-harvest management company, has released its first estimates for 2019-20 rabi crop production. This year is likely to see a record food grain production led by the wheat crop along with corn and jowar. Oilseeds and pulses may end up lower than the previous year.Rabi season which contributes to nearly 50% of the food grain production starts from November and lasts till April of the following year. The monsoon season of 2019 witnessed 10% above normal rainfall. The actual cumulative monsoon rainfall was 968 mm which was higher than the normal level of 880.6 mm. After the end of monsoon season the month of Oct’19 received large excess rainfall of 106.5 mm which was 42% more than the normal level of 74.8 mm. Excess rainfall received in October month has generated favourable conditions for sowing by providing adequate level of soil moisture.Wheat is the main crop of the Rabi season and staple food grain of the country. Wheat production during Rabi 2019-20 is estimated at 1090 lakh tonnes which is 6.27% higher than last year production of 1021 lakh tonnes. Production of wheat is expected to increase due to multiple factors. Firstly, higher acreage is reported during the current year due to increase in MSP. Farmers prefer Wheat over other Rabi crops in irrigated areas because of assured return as FCI undertakes procurement at MSP. Secondly, prolonged cold waves and winter rainfall in states that are key contributors in Wheat production has improved the yield. Along with Wheat, production of Rabi Paddy is estimated to increase by 5% compared to previous year.Siraj Chaudhry, MD & CEO, NCML said, “Bountiful rains received during monsoon season have boosted the prospects of crop production in the ensuing Rabi season. This year is likely to see a record food grain production led by the wheat crop along with corn and jowar. Oilseeds and pulses may end up lower than the previous year”Apart from paddy and wheat, maize is the third largest cereal crop of Rabi season in India. Maize not only occupies significant importance as food grain but is a quality feed for animals. Maize production during Rabi 2019-20 is estimated to be 89.2 lakh tonnes which is higher by 8.25% compared to last year.Jowar is a cereal crop, primarily grown in Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. Its production is expected to witness a steep jump amidst higher acreages and good growing conditions. Jowar production during the current rabi season is estimated at 31.2 lakh tonnes as against 20.2 lakh tonnes during rabi 2018, higher by 35.2%. Overall cereal production is forecasted to increase by 7% in the current Rabi season.Though cereal production is expected to show an increment, pulses production may show a marginal decline from the previous year by 2%. Gram has the highest acreage among all rabi pulses. Production of Gram during Rabi is estimated at 95.82 Lac Tonnes lower by 5% compared to last year production of 101.3 lakh tonnes. Additionally, rabi moong bean crop is estimated to decline by 10% to 4.62 Lac Tonnes in 2019-20 from 5.10 lakh tonnes in the foregoing year due to decline in acreage. Indian Rabi pulses production for the year 2019-20 is estimated at 144.8 lakh tonnes as against 148 Lac Tonnes witnessed during 2018-19.Mustard, the dominant oilseed of rabi season is primarily grown in Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Haryana. Production of Mustard is estimated at 85.79 lakh tonnes lower by 8.8% as against last year production of 93.4 lakh tonnes. While production of groundnut during rabi 2019-20 will be similar to that of last year. On the whole, India is expected to harvest a bumper Rabi crop during the current season wherein Wheat, Paddy, Maize and Jowar contributing for much of the production increments. Total Rabi food grain production is estimated to be higher by 6% at 1527 Lac Tonnes as against 1432 lakh tonnes of production witnessed during Rabi 2018-19 and Rabi 2019-20 oilseed production is forecasted to show a decline of 2.7% from last year.Excess production of wheat and paddy in rabi 2019-20 will build on existing surplus and stimulate additional market distortions. Record domestic supplies will add to procurement and subsidy load. There is an imperative need to align the production basket to consumption needs so that demand generating from growing population and changing lifestyles can be met domestically.