Demand and supply projections of wheat for Maharashtra

Abstract

Among the major cereals, wheat contributes 17 per cent to total cereal production in Maharashtra. Wheat has higher productivity than other cereals in the state except paddy. Wheat can play major role in increasing the food grain production of the state provided sufficient irrigation and adoption of new technology. Over a period of time, there has been a wide fluctuation in both acreages and production of wheat in different regions of Maharashtra state. There exists a wide gap between the national and state average productivity of wheat. In view of the above, the present study was undertaken in order to understand the demand and supply projection of wheat in Maharashtra. The supply of wheat in Maharashtra would be in the range of 11.39 to 14.67 lakh tonnes during 2010 AD as against the demand of 58.29 to 58.74 lakh tonnes. The gap between the supply of and demand for wheat would be around 43.62 to 47.35 lakh tonnes. The supply of wheat in Maharashtra would be in the range of 13.89 to 24.53 lakh tonnes during 2020 A.D. as against the demand for wheat would be 81.28 to 82.98 lakh tonnes. The gap between the supply of and demand for wheat would be in the range of 56.75 to 58.45 lakh tonnes. Alternative options available for increasing the production or in other words 'supply' is to enhance the adoption of improved production technology from the existing 44 per cent to higher level, thereby, the gap in demand and supply can be minimized.