Prospects for the rabi grain production (mainly wheat), to be harvested from April 1998, remain favourable. Wheat production in 1997 is officially estimated at a record 68.7 million tonnes against the previous year's 62.6 million tonnes and about 14 percent higher than the average of the preceding five years. In 1998 wheat production is expected to decline slightly to 67 million tonnes, due to the heavy rains during the optimal planting period of November through midDecember.
The estimate of aggregate paddy output for 1997/98, including Kharif and Rabi, has been raised by 1.2 million tonnes, from the previous forecast to about 123 million tonnes. Most parts of the country received timely and adequate monsoon rains for the tenth consecutive year.