(a) whether there has been an alarming decline in the area under cultivation of major
food crops in the country during each of the last three years and the current year;
(b) if so, the details thereof, crop and State/UT-wise;
(c) whether the slow pace of growth in the crucial agriculture sector is a matter of
concern for food security in the country;
(d) if so, the details thereof; and
(e) the corrective steps taken by the Government in this regard?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FOOD PROCESSING
INDUSTRIES (DR. CHARAN DAS MAHANT)
(a) & (b): As per the latest Land Use Statistics data (2010-11) compiled by Directorate
of Economics and Statistics, Ministry of Agriculture, the area under food crops was 144.6
million hectares in 2007-08, 143.0 million hectares in 2008-09, 138.8 million hectares in
2009-10 and 146.3 million hectares in 2010-11. The State-wise details of the area under
cultivation of major food crops are at annexure.
(c) to (e): As a result of efforts made by the Government under various
schemes/programmes to enhance production and productivity in the agriculture sector, the
production of foodgrains has increased from 230.8 million tonnes in 2007-08 to 255.4
million tonnes in 2012-13. Further, foodgrains production touched a record high at 259.3
million tonnes in 2011-12.