Rice production projected at 8.4 mnt in kharif

Rice production in the state has been projected at 8.4 million tonne (mnt) for this kharif season on the back of normal monsoon rainfall. The rice output projection is based on the first advance estimates of the agriculture department with the rice yield calculated at 2,400 kg per hectare (ha).

"The pattern of monsoon rainfall was conducive for crops in the state except a few blocks like Sora, Tangi and Choudwar. We are hopeful that the rice production in the state is likely to cross 8.6 million tonne this year, if there is no flood," said Surendranath Pasupalak, head of agricultural meteorology at the Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT).

The output of coarse cereals is estimated at 0.794 mnt with an productivity of about 419.620 kg per ha. It includes 0.647 mt of maize and 0.13 mt of ragi with the productivity of 2,550 kg and 950 kg per ha respectively.

Similarly, the production of pulses during kharif 2013-14 is estimated to be 0.57 mt including 0.18mt of arhar, 0.16 mt of biri and 0.15 mt mung.

This year's food grain production target included 9.194 mt of cereals and 0.57 mt of pulses.

Paddy- a key kharif crop has been sown on 3.67 mha area surpassing the target of 3.5 mha as on September-end last year. Pulses, oilseeds, fibers, vegetables and spices were sown on 0.68 mha, 0.30 mha, 0.15 mha, 0.64 mha and 0.105 mha respectively.

Total food grains output in the first estimate has been pegged at 9.764 mt compared to 9.8 mt in the fourth advance estimates for last year. As per the fourth advance estimate, rice production in the state in last kharif was likely to be 8.628 mt with a yield rate of 2,302 kg per hectare. It includes production of 0.619 mt of maize, 0.145 mt of ragi, 0.128 mt of arhar, 0.0109 mt of mung, 0.121 mt of biri, 0.224 mt of oil seeds and 0.541 mt of fibres in 2012-13.