Improved rains boost kharif paddy sowing

Improved rainfall over eastern, northeastern and northwestern parts of the country during the week ended August 12 has given renewed impetus to the sowing of paddy (de-husked rice).

The area under paddy during the current kharif season till Friday was estimated to be 29.85 million hectares, up almost nine per cent over the area covered during the same period last year, a statement issued by the agriculture department shows.

In 2010-11, the crop was sown on 38.27 million hectares, among the highest in recent times.

Better acreage and improved yields helped the country produce a record 95.32 million tonnes (mt) of rice last year, nine per cent more than the previous year.
 

PERFORMANCE METER
States	2011*	2010*	% Chg
West Bengal	2.38	3.47	46
Uttar Pradesh	5.48	5.77	5.2
Bihar	1.58	2.45	55
Jharkhand	0.49	1.05	112
Chhattisgarh	3.26	3.18	-2.5
Punjab	2.75	2.72	-0.8
Total	27.45	29.85	9
NOTE: The total might not match as all the states where paddy is cultivated has not been included * In Million Hectares Source: Department of Agriculture & Cooperation

In 2011-12, the government has fixed a target of producing 110 mt rice.

Meanwhile, in West Bengal, the country’s biggest paddy-growing state, the area under the crop till August 12 was almost at 3.47 million hectares, 1.1 million hectares more than the corresponding period a year ago.

Similarly, in Bihar, the area was almost 2.45 million hectares till August 12, 870,000 hectares more as compared to the same period last year.

In Jharkhand, paddy had been planted on around 1.05 million hectares till August 12, 111 per cent more than the same period last year, while in Uttar Pradesh, the crop has been sown in 5.77 million hectares, up 5.2 per cent.

“Till early August, monsoon had been rather erratic over eastern India, but it has since picked up pace, not only wip

ing out the seasonal rainfall deficit, but aiding planting of paddy in a big way,” a senior agriculture ministry official said. A report by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) showed the southwest monsoon over east and northeastern parts of the country, which comprise states like West Bengal, Assam, Jharkhand and Bihar, was 34 per cent above normal during the week ended August 12.

This was only the second time this year that the southwest monsoon was above normal over eastern India during a week. This also helped in bringing down the overall rainfall deficit in the country from six per cent to four per cent since June 1. Till Friday, the country had received around 522.1 millimetres of rainfall, as against a normal monsoon of 543.9 mm.

West Bengal has received 836.2 mm of rainfall till now this year, 22 per cent above normal, while Bihar has received 615.1 mm, two per cent above normal.

Monsoon rains in Assam and Jharkhand have been 30 per cent below normal and one per cent above normal, respectively so far.