Crop production growth in red: Survey

Mumbai: The Economic Survey of Maharashtra 2018-19 has predicted a bleak scenario for the agricultural and industrial sectors, which are the two pillars of the economy, in the state. While the agriculture sector is expected to see an eight per cent drop in crop production, the industries sector too will see a fall of 0.7 per cent.

The steady decline in average rainfall during the monsoon season and drought conditions prevailing since a couple of years has led to a sharp decline in agricultural production. There has been a sharp fall in kharif and rabi crops like jowar, bajra, tur, groundnut, sesame and sunflower. However, there has been a 10 per cent rise in sugarcane production since last year. The gross irrigated area to gross cropped area ratio was not provided in the survey for the seventh year in a row.

While the per capita state income has risen from last year’s Rs 1,76,102 crore to Rs 1,91,827 crore this year, it is still less than Karnataka’s Rs 2,07,062 crore and Telangana’s Rs 2,06,107 crore. The state’s economy is expected to maintain a growth rate of 7.5 per cent during 2018-19, the same as the rate clocked during the previous year.

Most of the sectors that are important for the growth of the economy such as mining, manufacturing and utility also saw a decline in 2018-19. Besides this, in the social sector, according to Crime Investigation Bureau data, crimes against women and children such as kidnapping, abduction, molestation, sexual harassment and other crimes have seen a rise.

The survey was tabled in the Assembly and Council on Monday. Following this, senior Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan questioned the credibility of the report saying its figures are fake and misleading. “Despite the drop in kharif and rabi crops, if the state growth rate is rising, then there is something amiss in the report,” he said. Leader of Opposition in the Council Dhananjay Munde demanded a joint committee to examine the data.

Finance minister Sudhir Mungantiwar, however, defended the report, claiming that investment in several sectors will see a rise in the future.