The Hindu Business Line : Bengal sees 6.4 pc rise in grains output

AT a time when the Union Government is apprehending that the national foodgrains production might fall by 2.8 per cent during the current financial year, the West Bengal Government is expecting a growth of 6.4 per cent in this sector.

The fear was expressed by the Union Government in its Economic Review 2004-05.

However, in West Bengal foodgrains production is expected to touch the 170.3-lakh tonnes mark.

In the current financial year, the State would become self-sufficient in foodgrains production. The annual foodgrains consumption is 169 lakh tonnes. The State also crossed its pre-fixed production target of 165 lakh tonnes.

Rice production has increased from 146.6 lakh tonnes in 2003-04 to an estimated 154.9 lakh tonnes in the current financial year. It is more than that of its total annual consumption, which is 134 lakh tonnes.

According to Dr Asim Dasgupta, Finance Minister, the State would continue to remain the leading rice producer among all other States in the country. Potato production would increase further and is expected to touch the 80-lakh tonnes mark.

Despite reaching a stage of self-sufficiency in total foodgrains production, West Bengal's wheat production is only 9.8 lakh tonnes against a total consumption of 20 lakh tonnes.

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