Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar today said, the country's foodgrain production this year is expected to surpass the previous record of 259.29 million tonnes. Addressing the 85th annual general meeting of Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), Mr Pawar said, the government is also hopeful of achieving pulse production target of 19 million tonnes during the current crop year.

The target would be achieved with the help of Accelerated Pulse Production Programme being implemented in 16 states, Mr Pawar said. The Minister said that total production of rice in seven states including Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Assam is also estimated to be more than 50 per cent of the national production.

Pointing out that climate variability is a major issue in crop production, Mr Pawar said the National Initiative for Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA) of ICAR is focusing both on strategic research and on-farm demonstration to tackle the issue. Mr Pawar said, the changing consumption pattern has enhanced the demand for food items of animal origin. To meet this requirement, Sea cage farming is practised to harness coastal production potential.

The Minister said, to promote agricultural education in deprived areas, the ICAR has moved a Bill for establishing a Central Agricultural University in Bundelkhand region.