The highly erratic monsoon and its obscure spread may reduce foodgrain output in the ongoing kharif season to 136.75 million tonnes (mt) — nearly 2.83 per cent lower than the 140.73 mt produced in 2017-18. According to NCML: Oilseed production decline. The overall production of oilseeds in 2018-19 kharif too is projected to fall by 2 per cent to 20.56 mt (21 mt). While soyabean output may register an uptick, there could be a 17 per cent dip in groundnut yield. The drop in o verall kharif production is on expected lines despite a pick-up in the monsoon in July and August. While over 20 per cent of the country faced floods, half of the country’s 36 meteorological subdivisions are reeling under a rainfall deficit of over 10 per cent.