New Delhi- The Department of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare (DA&FW), chaired by Advisor Ruchika Gupta, conducted its second round of stakeholder consultations at Krishi Bhawan. This meeting focused on assessing the production outlook for cereals, oilseeds, cotton, and sugarcane ahead of the Kharif 2024 first advance estimates, set for release in October. Key stakeholders, including CRISIL Research, Agriwatch, and the Indian Oilseed and Produce Export Promotion Council (IOPEPC), participated in the discussions.

The consultation aimed to gather early insights into crop conditions, with reports indicating promising prospects for rice and maize. However, cotton acreage may decrease due to crop diversification. Stakeholders highlighted the importance of ongoing collaboration and data sharing to improve the accuracy of crop production forecasts.