The government on Thursday said based on the current monsoon situation, India's foodgrains output may rise by 29 per cent to 115 million tonnes in the ongoing kharif season against 89.45 million tonnes in 2002-03 when the country was ravaged by the worst drought in more than 100 years.

"We live on estimates and possibilities. Based on the weathermen's forecast of a normal monsoon and reports of sowing received from states so far, grains output this kharif may cross 115 million tonnes," Agriculture Minister Rajnath Singh said in New Delhi.

He said there was a record foodgrains output of 212.03 million tonnes in 2001-02 and driven by abundant rains this year a new record may be set.

The minister said he was going by the forecast of the Indian Meteorological Department of the monsoon being 96 per cent of the normal though he felt it could swing five per cent on either side.

According to the latest official data, kharif rice coverage was 860,000 hectares against 980,000 hectares as on June 23.

He said the progress of sowing of kharif crops was a little slow because of delay in rains, however it was not a cause of concern since it is expected to pick up with the progress of monsoon.

Pre-Monsoon showers in Punjab, Haryana and west Uttar Pradesh are favourable for kharif rice.

India's foodgrains production touched an all-time high of 212.03 million tonnes in 2001-02 including 111.55 and 100.67 million tonnes in kharif and rabi season respectively.

But due to a severe drought last year, it fell to 184.06 million tonnes with 89.45 and 94.61 million tonnes in the two seasons.