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This year, rice production in West Bengal is likely to be higher than last year, despite the crop damage on account of floods in parts of the state.
In 2012-13, the state produced 15.3 million tonnes (MT) of rice, an increase of 5.5% over the previous year
Experts say the use of high-yield seeds and a good monsoon are expected to boost productivity. “Initial estimates show this year, paddy productivity is much more than usual. While it is early to predict the actual output, rice production this year is likely to be higher than last year,” said Pranab Chatterjee, professor at Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya.
Ramaprasad Biswas, a farmer in Nadia, said, “This year, new seed varieties and better pesticide and insecticide management contributed to good growth in the crop.”
In July-August, floods in nine of the 19 districts in the state, including the high rice-productivity districts of Bardhaman, Hugli, Birbhum and Nadia, destroyed a part of standing crop.
The state government had set a target of increasing rice productivity by 500 kg/hectare through new varieties of seeds introduced as part of the second green revolution in the East, Chatterjee said. Average rice productivity in West Bengal stands at about 2,500 kg/hectare.
Rice production in West Bengal is spread across three seasons---aus, aman and boro. Of these, the kharif rise aus and aman) account for about 70% of the state’s production. Last year, despite a delayed monsoon, the price of paddy crashed due to excess, but low-quality production. The fall was on account of higher production in the boro season, which discouraged farmers to sow during the kharif season.
West Bengal accounts for 14-16% of India’s rice production. In 2011-12, the state government had procured 3.04 MT of rice. Till May this year, it had procured 2.71 MT.
