Government expects a better Rabi crop this season. It comes close on the heels of a bad Kharif crops due to scant monsoon. A report from economic think tank National Council of Applied Research says that the Kharif output is likely to drop by 13 to 17 per cent bringing the out put down to 100 million tonnes against 118 million tonnes in the last season. <br/><br/>Reports from states suggest that late withdrawal of monsoon has resulted in increase in soil moisture proving beneficial for the Rabi crop. Current year's water stock has been reported to be 98 per cent of the long term average. The preliminary data from Ministry of Agriculture suggests that the acreage under all Rabi crops, including wheat has so far shown an increase of 1.5% over the last year’s allocation for the same period.<br/><br/>It also said that timely sowing, better micro irrigation, use of fertilizers will help increase productivity. The Government has also engaged Agricultural Universities, Krishi Vigyan Kendras and Kissan Call Centres to help farmers increase productivity. The share of Rabi to total food grain output has increased overtime from 40 percent in 1980-81 to almost an equal share 49 percent in 2008-09.