India's paddy, wheat productivity lower than China

But yield little higher when it comes to oil crops and sugarcane

India's per hectare productivity of major crops like paddy, wheat, coarse grains and pulses is much lower than China, but little higher when it comes to oil crops and sugarcane, Parliament was informed today.

India produced 3,590 kg paddy in a hectare against 6,686 kg by China in 2011, Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Processing Industries Tariq Anwar said in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha.

India's productivity of the major crop is also lower when compared with other neighbouring countries such as Bangladesh (4,219 kg) and Myanmar (4,081 kg).

India's per hectare yield of wheat is also lower by a whopping 1,661 kg per hectare compared to China's 4,838 kg, the Minister said quoting Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).

Productivity of coarse grains and pulses in India stood at 1,591 kg and 699 kg compared to China's 5,470 kg and 1,533 kg, respectively.

In fact, India's per hectare production of pulses is the lowest compared to its six neighbours - Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, Myanmar, Nepal and Sri Lanka. However, it is higher than Pakistan where 517 kg of pulses was produced in 2011 in a hectare.

Meanwhile, India stands tall over all its neighbours, including China in per hectare oil crops and sugarcane productivity at 1,133 kg and 71,668 kg against China's 619 kg and 66,519 kg, respectively.

Anwar said there was no slowdown of agricultural research activity in India with 99 institutes, five deemed universities and 79 All India Coordinated Research projects (AICRPs) of Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) engaged in conducting research to cater to the needs of the  farmers across the country.

"During the last five years (2008-12), 645 high-yielding crop varieties/hybrids that have fair degree of tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses have been released," he said.