"Information that has come is that sowing has been reasonably good and therefore the food production would be much more than last year. How much more is yet to be seen. I cannot accurately tell you the figure. Only at the end of the season, we will know the accurate figure," he said.(After Onions, Pulses Now Face a Steep Price Rise)
Talking to reporters on the sidelines of a function in Kollam, he said even though rainfall was likely to be less than normal, food production would be much higher. When asked about deficit rainfall this year, he said: "You had fair amount of rains in July, but in August it was a little low. September so far has not been satisfactory, but last two to three days, it has picked up."
Although there were predictions, only after the monsoon season ended, the Meteorological department can give a final figure. "Of course by all likelihood it is going to be less than normal," Mr. Jaitley added.