After having recorded the second highest wheat arrival till date, Haryana this year is expecting a bumper production in rice as well.
According to the agriculture department, officials estimate rice production this year to be 3.9 million tonnes (MT) or 39,00,000 tonnes as against 34,72,000 tonnes achieved last year. A glance at previous year’s figures suggest 39,00,000 tonnes rice production is the highest production the state agriculture department is eyeing since the last four to five years.
Last year, Haryana recorded 34,72,000 tonnes production from 12,45,000 hectare area.
The reason for Haryana eyeing enhanced rice production this year could be because the agriculture department believes the average yield this year should be 3,250 kg/hectares as against 2,789 kg/hectares yield recorded last year.
According to scientists, the near normal monsoon predicted by the meteorological department would again boost the qualitative and quantitative prospects for good paddy crop this year.
However, if Haryana has to achieve record production there are few challenges to be met.
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Last year, floods in Haryana had done considerable damage to the paddy crop, which eventually resulted in the increase in the area under basmati crop. This year, for achieving record rice production Haryana needs to be ensured farmers opt for normal paddy instead of basmati as yield of normal paddy is more compared to basmati variety.
Also favourable weather and better prices are likely to influence farmers especially in South west Haryana to opt for cotton sowing considering higher remunerative prices.
Now with the increase in area under cotton crop production, further paddy production in the state would be severely affected.