NEW DELHI, Feb 16 (Reuters) - India is likely to produce a record 316.06 million tonnes of grain in the current crop year to June, up from 310.74 million tonnes harvested in the previous year, the government said in its latest estimate released by the farm ministry on Wednesday.
Wheat output is expected at 111.32 million tonnes, up from the previous year's 109.59 million tonnes, and farmers are likely to harvest 127.93 million tonnes of rice against 124.37 million tonnes produced the year before.
Oilseeds output is expected at 37.1 million tonnes against 35.9 million tonnes harvested in the previous year.
The output of rapeseed, the main winter oilseed with the highest oil content, is expected at 11.4 million tonnes, higher than a target of 10.97 million tonnes and the previous year's production of 10.2 million tonnes.
Production of chickpeas, a popular variety of pulses, is likely to be 13.2 million tonnes against 11.91 million tonnes harvested in the previous year.
Any increase in rapeseed and chickpeas production cuts imports of expensive vegetable oils and pulses - commodities that are in short supply in India, the world's biggest importer of both cooking oils and protein-rich pulses. (Reporting by Mayank Bhardwaj Editing by Mark Potter)
