Eleven per cent increase in post-monsoon rain and new farm technologies are likely to more than make up for drought-hit kharif crop and result in a bumper grain production of about 220 million tonnes in 2004-05, according to government estimates.

"We are all set to record a bumper foodgrain production this year. We are confident that the shortfall in kharif would be more than compensated in rabi," Mangala Rai, the director-general of Indian Council of Agricultural Research, told PTI.

The agriculture ministry expects to record at least four per cent higher foodgrain production in the current year than last year's overall output of 212 million tonnes.

Rai said the FCI has procured one lakh tonnes more of rice as on date in comparison to the same period last year.

Sufficient post-monsoon rain would help in enhancing production of rabi crops like wheat and mustard by providing the much needed moisture to the soil, he said.

"The photosynthesis was less due to the wintry conditions for two weeks in October and this will raise the productivity level of foodgrain crops by 10 to 15 per cent," Rai said.

The kharif grain output for this year is seen lower at 100.29 million tonne compared with 112.05 million tonne a year ago.