The production of food grain in India is expected to fall short by 7 per cent this year, despite a robust wheat production.

The fall is the result of drought. The total food grain production was 218.9 million tons as against 80.98 million tons.

Foodgrain is considered to comprise of wheat, rice, pulses and coarse cereals. But wheat, which is staple food for larger section of the society, is considered to form the bigger part.

While the production of rice and coarse cereals has gone down by 10 per cent and 17 per cent, respectively, the same for wheat has gone up. It will beat the estimates and 80.98 million tons of the same will be produced as against 80.68 million tons.

As per the third advanced estimates released by the government, production in both Rabi and Kharif, will go down.

More importantly, the production of sugarcane is expected to fall as well. It will be 274.65 million tons as compared to 285.02 million tons last year.

On the other hand, the government has revised the production figures of wheat and rice. And this time, these are upwards, unlike oilseeds, which will go down.