Dilip Kumar Jha / Mumbai July 25, 2008, 0:55 IST India's paddy output is likely to rise marginally by 1.39 per cent, or 2 million tonnes, due to favourable monsoon in some major growing areas, says the latest report by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO). The country's total paddy output may rise to 145.5 million tonnes in 2008 as compared to 143.5 million tonnes last year. According to data collated by the Ministry of Agriculture, the area under paddy has increased by 5.45 per cent so far this season to 92.35 lakh hectare (ha) as against 86.90 lakh ha at the same time last year. The area under coarse cereals and pulses has gone up by 9.01 per cent and 2.18 per cent to 87.35 lakh ha and 30.85 lakh ha respectively. FAO's study further said the country's total cereal output may perk up marginally to 257.9 million tonnes this year as against 255 million tonnes last year. The favourable climatic condition in the country last rabi season led to a bumper wheat crop of a record 78 million tonnes, the highest in the last eight years and 2.2 million tonnes above the previous record, set last year. The country imported about 6.7 million tonnes of wheat in 2006-07 and imports were reduced to around 2 million tonnes in 2007-08, due to the good harvest. Sowing of the main kharif coarse grains and rice crops, for harvest beginning September, has begun. Though the early outlook is favourable, the outcome of the season will still depend greatly on the southwest monsoon in July and August. However, the two major paddy-growing states, Andhra Pradesh and Maharasthra, have announced a drought-like situation. The situation is likely to turn favourable soon, if signals from India's meteorological department any indication. The north-eastern states of India received sufficient rainfall while western Rajasthan, parts of Gujarat, western Madhya Pradesh and Tamil Nadu received normal rainfall. On the other hand, portions of South India namely Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh received deficient rainfall.