)
The euphoria regarding the record breaking rice crop in kharif 2013-14 may be over as the deluge in parts of Odisha as a consequence of Cyclone Phailin and hailstorm in Punjab and Haryana is expected to dent rice production.
According to the fourth revised estimates (2013-14) of Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India, a rice crop of 92.3 million tonne was expected. This seems to be a distant dream now due to substantial crop damage in the cyclone and flood effected districts of Odisha.
Odisha contributed about 8.5 million tonne of rice in 2012-13. Out of the 3.6 million hectare acrage under kharif this year, 0.5 million hectare has been effected in Odisha. The production this year may fall upto 1 million tonne in the state, said Trilochan Mohapatra, the Director of Rice Research Institute, Cuttak.
He added that the earlier projections of 107 million tonne (both kharif and rabi combined) of rice may not be achieved as the inclement weather has effected the crop in Odisha due to cyclone, and Western Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Haryana due to hailstorm and rainfall.
There might be some damage to the paddy crop in Punjab and Haryana, said Satnam Arora, Joint Managing Director of Satnam Overseas Limited (Kohinoor Brand Rice) and loss may be about 2% to 4%.
Ashwani Arora, Director of L T Overseas Limited, said that the crop has been delayed due to delayed rain but the produce may be effected upto 4%. Punjab produced 16 million tonne and Haryana about 8 million tonne of rice in kharif 2012-13.
| Year | fourth advanced estiamtes (kharif) | final estimates |
| 2011-12 | 91.53 | 92.78 |
| 2012-13 | 92.76 | - |
| 2013-14 | 92.34 | - |
The Rice Research Institute has sent its teams to the effected areas in different states and the exact assessment of crop position will be available in a week or so, he informed.
The weather vagaries would definitely undermine the kharif rice output. In India the proportion of kharif is in the total rice production of the country is pegged at 88%. So the damage to kharif rice may have significant effect on the total production, said Mohapatra.
Source: Ministry of Agriculture, GOI
According to farmers, flood has damaged the crops more than the cyclone. The paddy in the pre-mature and mature stage has been admaged but those in the early vegetative stage may be saved. The water to the level of one meter in may fields in Odisha has damaged the crops.
While the farmers were expecting an excellent crop this year, the cyclone has put them into shambles. They may get some compensation from the government and can remove the damaged crop to grow early sowing rabi crop. But it is too early to decide the course of action, told a farmer.
