The Hindu Business Line : India to achieve record rice production

NEW DELHI: The country will witness a record rice production this year on the back of higher area under coverage during Kharif season and better crop condition, Agriculture Minister, Mr Sharad Pawar said on Saturday.

“I think this year, particularly Kharif, the country will see the record rice production. In fact, last year's total procurement and production were higher than the previous year. It looks like this year also we will cross last year's production,” he sai d here.

Noting that substantial production of rice comes from the Kharif season, Mr Pawar said area under rice has increased in the season and the quality of the crop is very good.

According to the government's fourth advance estimate, India has produced a record 96.43 million tons of rice in 2007-08. Areas under paddy cultivation till yesterday stood at 368.8 lakh hectares, against 350.3 lakh hectares in the same period last year.

Mr Pawar, however, expressed concern over the pulses crop, the area of which has fallen because of the delay in monsoon, especially in Karnataka, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh.

The Minister expressed satisfaction over the general crop condition of oilseeds. In case of cotton, he said, though the acreage has declined marginally, the share of high-yielding Bt cotton is almost 80 per cent.

Mr Pawar said that rains in the Rabi areas during the last week was extremely good, boosting the crop prospects. “I am confident that in a week's time farmers will start sowing operation for Rabi crop and the prospect for Rabi also seems very encouragin g,” he added. - PTI

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