Telangana farm department has raised its estimate for rice output to 5.56 million tonne in 2016-17 (Jul-Jun), from 4.57 million tonne projected in the second advance estimate. Output of rice in the previous year was 3.05 million tonne. Telangana is one of India leading producers of rice. According to the third advance estimate, output of maize, another major crop in the state, is expected to rise 65.8% to 2.9 million tonne this year because of higher acreage and yield. Total output of food grains is projected to rise to 9.06 million tonne, compared with 5.15 million tonne a year ago.