Indian corn production set for record, but soy and wheat fall

Indian corn production is set for a record-breaking crop of 27.14 million mt for the 2017/18 campaign, after a normal monsoon and an increase in the planted area, the Indian agricultural ministry said in an update on Tuesday.

Indian last record corn crop was achieved in 2016/17 when it produced 26.26 million mt, according to USDA data.

Total food grains, which include corn, rice, wheat and other cereals, is set for a record production size of 277.49 million mt, up 2.37 million from the previous record.

“As a result of near normal rainfall during monsoon 2017 and various policy initiatives taken by the government, the country has witnessed record food grains production in the current year,” the ministry said.

Wheat production is expected to hit 97.11 million mt, down 1.4 million mt from the previous campaign, which was a record year.

Although, wheat production fell back, it will still be higher than the longer-term average of 93.34 million mt, the ministry added.

The country is set to produce some 11.39 million mt of soybeans for the 2017/18 marketing year ending in September, down just 1% from the 2016/17 crop size of 11.5 million mt.

Total oilseeds production, including groundnut and castor bean, is set for 29.88 million mt, down 1.39 million mt from the previous campaign, but still higher than the longer-term average of 29.54 million mt.