Chhattisgarh set to produce 7.6 MT paddy during kharif 2015

State government concentrating on the promotion of cash crops

Chhattisgarh government had set a target to produce 7.65 million tonne (MT) of paddy during the kharif 2015.

While the paddy acreage in the state would come down slightly, the production would however remain intact as compared to kharif 2014. The state government had planned to take paddy crop in 3.64 million hectares area this year as compared to last year’s 3.73 million hectares---a variation of about two per cent.



“With the latest farming technology coupled with best quality of seed, more production could be achieved despite fall in the acreage,” deputy director (agriculture) R K Chandravanshi said. The department is also emphasising on increasing the productivity by creating awareness among the farmers, he added.
 

As against 7.64 MT paddy produced during the kharif 2014, the department had set a target of producing 7.65 MT paddy this year. In all, kharif crops would be taken in 4.82 million hectares as compared to last year’s 4.81 million hectares area.

The department officials said the state government was concentrating on the promotion of cash crops. While the acreage of pulses had been increased by eight per cent, oilseeds would be sown in the areas that would be 23 per cent more as compared to last year’s oilseeds acreage. The acreage of soyabean had been increased by 29 per cent.  

Due to financial crunch, Chhattisgarh is expected to procure limited paddy at the minimum support price (MSP) in the kharif marketing season 2015-16. Last year, about 6.5 MT paddy was procured in the state while 2013-14, over 8 MT paddy was procured.

The state government, in a cost cutting measure, had put a cap on paddy procurement in the kharif marketing season 2014-15. The state government had earlier decided to purchase only 10 quintals of paddy behind every acre of land. After facing strong protest within the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and farmers, the limit was increased to 15 quintals per acre.