Pune: Maharashtra is heading towards a significant agricultural boost in 2024-25, with the state's first advance kharif estimates indicating substantial increase in production across major crops owing to a favourable monsoon. The state's total foodgrain production is projected to reach 86.71 lakh tonnes in 2024-25, marking a 29.
2% jump from previous year's 67.09 lakh tonnes. Soybean, the state's major oilseed crop, has an estimated production of 73.
27 lakh tonnes, showing a significant increase from last year's 66.68 lakh tonnes. The total oilseeds production is expected to rise to 75.
35 lakh tonnes from 68.27 lakh tonnes. In a slight setback, sugar cane production is projected at 1070.
30 lakh tonnes, showing a marginal decline from previous year's 1126.27 lakh tonnes. The estimates showed a slight decline in rice production at 34.
39 lakh tonnes compared to last year's 35.89 lakh tonnes. Notably, maize production is set to more than double to 29.
39 lakh tonnes from 14.41 lakh tonnes in the previous year. The pulses segment also showed significant improvement with total production expected to reach 16.
47 lakh tonnes, up from 12.31 lakh tonnes, which could help stabilise dal prices in domestic markets in the coming time. "The projected increase in crop production can be attributed to favourable monsoon conditions," said a senior agriculture department official.
The official added, "Last year's rainfall was just 87% of normal until October, but this year we're seeing 118% of the.
