90% sowing completed in Chhattisgarh for kharif crop

Around 90 per cent sowing has been completed for the current kharif season in Chhattisgarh that is set to yield bumper paddy production following good rainfall.

According to agriculture department officials, sowing for the kharif crop has been completed in 3.66 million hectare of area as against the targeted 3.87 million hectare. About 90 per cent sowing has been completed in the state.

The Chhattisgarh government has set a target to take paddy crop in 3.60 million hectare of area in the kharif season 2012-13. The official said sowing work had been completed in about 3.41 million hectare — about 95 per cent of the targeted acreage.

 

The estimated rice production in the state is likely to be 6.48 million tonnes as against last year’s 6.36 million tonnes. In 2010, the state had produced 6.1 million tonnes of rice.

The officials added that continuous rainfall in the paddy growing region had made the authorities to believe that Chhattisgarh, which is also known as rice-bowl of the country, was set to produce bumper crop this year. The state had received sufficient rains for a good paddy crop, they added.

Much to the respite of the agriculture department, sowing of other kharif crop was also nearing completion that came to standstill following unabated rainfall. The sowing of pulse-seeds had also gained momentum. Officials said sowing had been completed in 270,000 hectare area as against the targeted 405,000 hectare.

While the state government had set a target to take oilseed crops in 357,000 hectare area, sowing as of now had been completed in 246,000 hectare area, the officials added.