A bumper paddy crop is expected in Uttar Pradesh this kharif season, with the area under cultivation rising to over 6 million hectares.
In 2007-08, the production of paddy in the state stood at 11.7 million tonnes, while the acreage was a little under 5.7 million hectares.
“This year, paddy acreage has been estimated at over 6 million hectares and hence, production will also be higher than last year,” State Agriculture Department Director R R Verma told Business Standard.
The recent spate of rainfall is also expected to help the standing paddy crop. However, there are concerns about paddy in the low-lying areas, which may be adversely affected with diseases and pests, if the excess water does not drain out soon. Large tracts of land in the rice bowl of eastern UP are presently flooded following incessant rainfall and flow of water from rivers originating in Nepal. The rain is also likely to damage other kharif crops such as pulses and oilseeds, Verma informed.
“Even if 5-10 per cent paddy is damaged due to excess rainfall in low lying areas, the production of paddy will be bumper by almost 25-30 per cent in 2008-09 season over last year,” P C Kanodia, UP Rice Millers Association secretary said.
There are about 8,000 rice mills in the state.
Meanwhile, the state food and civil supplies department is also gearing up for the paddy procurement season, which begins October 1 and continues through February 28.
Last year, the Food Corporation of India (FCI) and the state government agencies had procured 2.2 million tonnes of paddy against the target of 2 million tonnes with the help of commission agents, UP food and civil supplies Chief Marketing Officer Mehboob Hasan Khan said.
These commission agents, registered with the Mandi Parishad, number almost 4,800 in the state. A total of 4,843 procurement centres, owned by FCI and state agencies, were set up for wheat procurement this year and the number may be increased for paddy, if required, Khan added.
