Even though his ministership is under threat, Sharad Pawar is sure that this year as the Agriculture Minister will be good. This is what he says when he predicts that the food grain production in India is going to be bumper this year.

Rise in total area under cultivation and the most-expected good rains this year are going to be the factors behind this good news.

It will help in reducing the inflation which is still in double digits and is expected to be above 8 per cent in 2011, as per reports.

In FY'2010, the total production of food grain was down by 7 per cent and became 218.19 million tonnes (July-June). This was against a record production of 234.47 million tonnes in the previous year.

A very bad drought that hit more than half of India was cited as the reason for this.

Talking to media on the sidelines of a sugar conference, Pawar said that there are reports of good monsoon and that the sowing operations are also going on fine.

He also said that the production of Kharif crops such as paddy, oilseeds and pulses, in particular, are going to be good this season.