Thursday, September 14 2006 14:31 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: The Government today (Sept 14, 2006) announced plans to increase wheat output by at least five million tonne each year.

A plan is being approved by the Cabinet and we are fine-tuning it, Agriculture Secretary Radha Singh said at the National Conference for Rabi Campaign 2006-07 here.

Singh said the plan is likely to be operational from this Rabi season beginning October.

She said the Centre would provide incentives to the wheat-growing states in the form of seeds, fertiliser and irrigation.

Last year, wheat production stood at around 69 million tonne. Wheat production in the country has been averaging 72-73 million tonnes for the last couple of years.

On strategy to raise wheat output, she said this can be done either by bringing new areas under wheat coverage or raising productivity of the existing acreage.

Wheat acreage in the country stands around 27 million hectare.

The Secretary termed this year's monsoon to be unfriendly as both drought and floods had occurred.