Uttar Pradesh, the rice bowl of India, is expecting over 13 per cent increase in paddy production this kharif season at 13.5 million tonnes (MT).
Kharif sowing normally starts from June, while harvesting picks up from October.
Last year, paddy production stood at 11.94 MT. During 2008-09 and 2009-10, the corresponding figures were about 13 MT and 10 MT, respectively.
Likewise, the area under paddy during 2011-12 is estimated to increase to 5.9 million hectares (MH) vis-à-vis 5.632 MH last year. The corresponding acreage for 2008-09 and 2009-10 stood at about 6 MH and 5 MH, respectively.
Meanwhile, the total area under kharif crops in Uttar Pradesh, including paddy, is estimated to touch 8.414 MH compared to 8.030 MH the previous year.
The total production of all kharif crops is likely to touch 17.254 MT vis-à-vis 15.116 MT during 2010-11.
This year, the Centre had raised the minimum support price (MSP) of paddy by Rs 80 per quintal. The MSP for paddy — common variety and A grade — was Rs 1,000/quintal and Rs 1,030/quintal last year, which now have become Rs 1,080/quintal and Rs 1,110/quintal, respectively.
However, the hike is still lower than the union agriculture ministry’s proposal of an increase of Rs 160/quintal. Sometimes, the Centre announces bonus over MSP, which is the price at which the government buys paddy from farmers to run Public Distribution System (PDS).
Meanwhile, farmers advocacy body Kisan Jagriti Manch has said the increase of Rs 80/quintal in MSP was a disincentive for farmers.
Manch President and National Alliance of Farmers Association Executive member Sudhir Panwar said in the interactive meeting between farmers, state government representative and reports of Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices officials, several states had demanded 25 per cent increase in MSP due to an increase in farm input prices.
He noted the cost of paddy inputs had increased substantially over last year, especially labour and water.
“We will hold a meeting of farmers’ representative of different states on the issue and chart out plan for agitation. The increase in pulses and cotton is immaterial as market price is much higher than MSP and the government hardly makes any institutional arrangement for their purchase,” he added.
