The Hindu Business Line : Boro rice meet to focus on raising acreage in N-E

RICE scientists will work out a strategy to push up the acreage under `Boro' rice, especially in the northeastern states as well as to increase the productivity at a national conference to be held at Agartala, Tripura, on August 23-24.

The two-day meet being organised by the Directorate of Rice Research (DRR), Hyderabad, has attracted 200 participants representing the scientists, policy makers, farmers' representatives from East and northeastern India as well as extension officials.

Boro rice is the crop grown in winter during October-November to May-June, especially in low-lying areas or river deltas. It has been making significant contributions in enhancing the overall rice production in West Bengal and is grown in Bihar, Assam and part of Uttar Pradesh and Orissa.

At present, boro rice is grown in about 1.89 million hectares and the yields are 5-7 tonnes/hectare compared to 3-4 tonnes/hectare of kharif rice. Increasing the acreage and productivity, especially in northeastern States is critical to increasing the overall production of rice in the country, said Dr B. Mishra, Project Director of DRR.

The current status of boro rice cultivation in different states, problems faced and strategies to enhance production would be discussed at the seminar, which would be inaugurated by the Agriculture Minister of Tripura, Mr Tapan Chakrabarthy, he said in a press release.