India will likely witness a record production of food grains this year, Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar said on Sunday.

Speaking at the inaugural ceremony of agriculture exposition 'Krishi Vasant' at Nagpur, Maharashtra-based Central Cotton Research Institute, Mr. Pawar said this year's food grains production would likely reach a record 263.2 million tonnes. Existing record of 259 million tones was set two years back.

He added that India has emerged as the world's largest producer of rice and the second largest producer of wheat this year.

Delivering his speech, he said, "India has witnessed a record grain production this year .. This year's grain production is likely to increase by four million tonnes, breaking the two-year-old record of 259 million tonnes."

President Pranab Mukherjee, who inaugurated the agriculture exposition, praised Mr. Pawar for the tremendous progress in farming sector during the last ten years. He said India was once dependent on foreign countries for food grains, but Mr. Pawar gave a new direction to agriculture, helping it make a tremendous progress.

Maharashtra's Agriculture Minister Md Nasir said the exposition would encourage the farmers in the state to further enhance agricultural productivity and boost the state's economy.

Krishi Vasant is being organized jointly by the Government of India and Government of Maharashtra and industry body CII.