Rice crop likely to rise

Early onset of monsoon and favourable weather conditions are likely to raise rice production in the state to 162 lakh ton this year as against 160 lakh ton last year.

Speaking on the sidelines of a press conference in Kolkata on Monday, Naren De, minister in charge, agriculture and consumer affairs, said, “Paddy production this year is likely to be robust compared to the last few years. While last year the total paddy production was 160 lakh ton, this year it would be close to 162 lakh ton. There has been a robust growth this year compared to last year due to timely rainfall and no drought season”.

The state food and civil supplies department was able to procure a total of 14.3 lakh ton of rice this season thanks to the big crop.

K John Koshy, state additional chief secretary, department of food and civil supplies, said “the department has been able to procure a total of 14.3 lakh ton this season in Bengal, with the procurement season for the year 2007-08 closing in September.”

The target would be to procure 16 lakh ton of paddy in the new procurement season for the year 2008-09, which has commenced from October this year, he further added.

Fresh guidelines for the new procurement season has also been issued to meet the target set, said Koshy.