The 2002 Kharif season was marked by an erratic southwest monsoon, which caused floods in many areas and a drought in northwestern states, seriously affecting agricultural production. Harvesting of the Kharif cereal crops is still underway. Preliminary government estimates point to a decline in the Kharif harvest by 18 percent from the previous year, to the lowest level for 14 years. The output of paddy is provisionally estimated at 106 million tonnes, which together with a forecast Rabi paddy crop of 19 million tonnes to be harvested in March-May 2003 gives a preliminary estimate of the 2002/03 marketing year paddy production of 125 million tonnes (83.3 million tonnes of milled rice). The Kharif coarse grain production is expected to be even worse affected with a drop of 24 percent from last year’s output of 27.1 million tonnes to 20.6 million tonnes this season (maize 9.8 million tonnes, sorghum 3.9 million tonnes and millet 6.9 million tonnes). Planting of the Rabi rice and winter wheat crops for harvest in March-May 2003 is underway, favoured by above-average pre-planting rains during October.
Following the devastating floods in several states, local and international organizations along with the Government continue to provide food relief and medical assistance to the affected populations, while food-for-work programmes for drought stricken people are being implemented by the concerned state governments.
Despite the reduced cereal production and food deficits in many areas, the overall national food supply position remains satisfactory with the country holding large cereal stocks accumulated over the previous years of good harvests. To reduce the financial burden of the large stockpile, the Government continues to promote exports of wheat and rice, which for 2002/03 are forecast at 4.7 million tonnes and 4.5 million tonnes, respectively. This makes the country the second largest exporter of rice and the sixth largest of wheat. In addition, India has donated 1 million tonnes of wheat for WFP’s under-funded emergency operation in Afghanistan, the largest single pledge in WFP’s history.