The government on Friday expressed optimism over increase in the country's oilseeds and grains output driven by near normal rainfall in the current season.

"Hopefully there should be a major rise in oilseeds and grains output in the current year, given the latest trends in monsoon, though it is too early to quantify the likely production," R C A Jain, agriculture secretary, told PTI in New Delhi.

Though no specific production target has been fixed as in the past, the Planning Commission's projection of four per cent annual growth for the sector during the 10th Plan is deemed to take care of the target for agri and oilseeds output.

Speaking on the sidelines of an official function, he said though the sowing was marginally lagging behind schedule, it will be made up in the coming weeks and will not affect the output.

Initially, there was a delay in the onset of monsoon due to which the sowing operations were affected, but they have now been accelerated and there is no cause for worry, he said.

The seeds availability is adequate and oilseeds growers will not face any problem in their purchases, he added.

Owing to the remunerative prices and good rains, sowing of oilseeds has been taken up in a big way and demand for seeds from farmers will be much higher this year.

Jain said the availability of certified seeds matches the requirement and the government's seed bank scheme has proved handy. Under the scheme, special focus is on those seed varieties, which are in great demand or the drought-resistant ones.

Earlier, Agriculture Minister Rajnath Singh had said the normal rainfall could spur the kharif grains output to 115 million tonne, as against 90 million tonne in the same season last year.