Paddy sowing situation worsens in Bengal and Bihar

Respite in eastern Uttar Pradesh post rains

Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar today said paddy sowing is picking up in eastern Uttar Pradesh due to good rains in last 4-5 days, but the situation is still bad in some parts of West Bengal, Bihar and Jharkhand.

"In five districts of West Bengal and certain districts in Jharkhand and Bihar, the situation is not good. While in eastern UP, the situation was worrisome for a week. But in the last 4-5 days, it is continuously raining and sowing is picking up," Pawar told reporters here.

Sowing operations can take place till August-end in eastern districts of Uttar Pradesh, known as the rice bowl of the state, he said.

However, overall area under sowing of kharif crops such as paddy, pulses and oilseeds has so far been better than last year's. "Production is expected to be better than last year. My problem is storage," he noted.

The minister said that on the back of good monsoon, paddy area has increased by nine per cent to 27.4 million hectares so far in the ongoing kharif season (June-September), against 25.1 million hectares in the same period last year.

According to the official data, area under pulses cultivation has increased to 10.3 million so far this kharif season from 8.5 million hectares in the same period last year. Oilseeds acreage has risen to 15.8 million hectares from 15 million hectare, while that of cotton area has risen to 10.49 million hectares from 9.49 million hectares in the review period. So far this kharif season, the total sowing area has risen to 88.9 million hectares from 80.7 million hectares in the same period of 2009, it added.