The production of foodgrains in the country is estimated at 257.07 million tonnes in second advance estimates for 2014-15 which exceeds the projected requirement of 249 million tonnes for the year. Informing this in the Lok Sabha, minister of state for Agriculture Mohanbhai Kalaynjibhai Kundriya said the average annual increase in overall production of foodgrains in the country has been registered at 3.48 per cent during the period from 2009-10 to 2014-15. He said in order to enhance production and productivity of crops and meet the demand of growing population of the country, the government has launched a centrally sponsored scheme of National Food Security Mission (NFSM) in 2007-08.The mission is being implemented with new target of additional production of foodgrains of 25 million tonnes by the end of 12th five year plan. The minister said, besides, NFSM government is also implementing various crop development schemes to promote agricultural production in the country under bilateral Memorandum of Understandings with several countries for technology exchange. Mr Kundriya also said Indian Council of Agricultural Research conducts research on different aspects of crop improvement, crop production and crop protection in different crop based research institutes.