WB summer rice crop likely to be higher by 25% to 7.5 mn tonne

Nearly 68% of total population of West Bengal resides in rural areas, according to last census

Ahead of elections in West Bengal, a bumper Boro or winter paddy crop is expected to come as a relief for the ruling government. Nearly 68% of total population of West Bengal resides in the rural areas, according to the last census.

Boro crop, which is sown during Januray-February and harvested in April-May, was sown over nearly 1.5 million hectare of land this year. Informal estimates suggest, this year Boro crop production could be close to 7.5 million tonne, against nearly 6 million tonne last year, a rise of nearly 25%.

"Field conditions suggest that this year we will have a bumper Boro crop production due to good weather condition and timely water supply," said Pranab Chatterjee, professor at Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya (BCKV).

Rice production in West Bengal is spread across three seasons---aus, aman and boro. Of these, the kharif rice (aus and aman) account for about 70% of the state's production.

In 2012-13, the state produced 15.3 million tonnes (MT) of rice, an increase of 5.5% over the previous year.

In October last year, floods in West Bengal had destroyed much of Aman or summer crop, leading to farmers suicides This year, the districts which were affected by floods included high rice-productivity districts of Bardhaman, Hooghly, Birbhum and Nadia. Burdwan, Birbhum, Nadia and Hooghly have the highest productivity and account for about 27% rice acreage and 32% production.

This year, Boro paddy acerage has remained same as last year, as not many farmers opted for paddy crop unprecedented rise in cost of electricity, fertilizer, labour and diesel, said Ramprasad Biswas, Gotra Krishi Samavayi Samiti, Burdwan.

However, this season, high ground level water retention after floods, and adequate water supply of water from Damodar Valley Corporation, helped farmers are some of the factors that led to good harvest.

Caught between drought and floods, farmers in West Bengal have been struggling with falling realizations and poor demand situation. In addition, a poor procurement policy had often led to distress sale in the state.