Rice sowing makes slow start in India's largest producing state

Rice sowing in West Bengal, India's largest rice-producing state, has not matched pace with other parts of the country due to below-average rainfall and pre-occupation of farmers with the ongoing local body elections.

This is not unusual, according to officials, who said rice was usually sown late in West Bengal, compared with other states. The difference would be bridged in the coming weeks, they added.

According to latest data from the agriculture department, rice has been sown on 367,000 hectares in the state till July 20, almost 33,000 hectares less than that last year.

Usually, the crop is planted in around four million hectares in the full-sowing season. In contrast, the area under rice in other parts of India has been far more than the same period last year.

In Punjab, the crop has been sown in 2.64 million hectares, 2.3 per cent more than the same period last year. In Uttar Pradesh, rice has been sown in 3.56 million hectares, 24 per cent more than last year.

Overall, rice had been planted in 15.5 million hectares across India till July 20, which is 11 per cent more than the year-ago period.

West Bengal, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), received 316.6 millimeters of rainfall between June 1 and July 20, which is 31 per cent less than normal.

"Uneven rains has so far kept some farmers away from their fields. Many of them are also busy with ongoing local body elections but we are sure acreage will be more than last year's once the season ends," said a senior official.

In all, official data showed kharif crops have been sown in 62 million hectares, 22.5 per cent more than the same period last year. Usually, kharif crops are sown on around 107 million hectares.

Meanwhile, private weather forecaster skymet has said that rainfall intensity over southern India and parts of Maharashtra might go down in the next few weeks and will pick up around middle of August.