(1) In the Pre-monsoon Season, the rainfall from March 1, 2008 to May 31, 2008 was normal/excess in 23 meteorological sub-divisions (64 per cent) and deficient/scanty in the remaining 13 (36 per cent).

Number of Meteorological Sub-divisions
Rainfall	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2003-07+	2008
Excess/Normal	13	27	20	28	16	21	23
Deficient/Scanty/Nil	23	09	16	08	20	15	13
Total	36	36	36	36	36	36	36
+ : Annual Average *(March-May)

(2) Wheat procurement as on March 1, 2008 (in the year 2007-08) was at 11.13 million tonnes as compared to 9.23 million tonnes (increased by 20.6 per cent) in the corresponding period of last year. While, procurement of rice as on March 1, 2008 was at 21.79 million tonnes as compared to 20.53 million tonnes (increased by 6.1 per cent) in the corresponding period of last year.

Million Tonnes
Agriculture Produce	Full Marketing Year				As on March 31		% change
	2003-04	2004-05	2005-06	2006-07	2007	2008
1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8
Rice (Oct-Sept.)	22.83	24.68	27.66	25.08	20.53	21.79	06.1
Wheat (Apr-Mar)	15.80	16.80	14.79	09.23	09.23	11.13	20.6
Total	38.63	41.48	42.45	34.13	36.88	36.20	10.6

(3) Off-take through the Public Distribution System from Central Pool during April-March, 2007-08 was 37.42 million tonnes as against 36.77 million tonnes during April–March, 2006-07.

Million Tonnes
Agriculture Produce	2004-05(P)	2005-06(P)	2006-07(P)	April-March
				2006-07	2007-08
1	2	3	4	5	6
Rice	23.20	25.04	25.06	25.06	25.22
Wheat	18.27	17.16	11.71	11.71	12.20
Total	41.47	42.20	36.77	36.77	37.42
P: Provisional

(4) Stocks of food-grains as on April 1, 2008 were 19.64 million tonnes, which was higher by 65.46 per cent than the level of 11.87 million tonnes as on April 1, 2007.

Million Tonnes
	As on April 1
Agriculture Produce	2007	2008
Rice	13.17	13.84
Wheat	04.70	05.80
Total	17.87	19.64
* Includes coarse grains

Source: Ministry of Finance

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