Fall in West Bengal output drags India’s rice manufacturing

In keeping with the most recent crop estimates launched by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, West Bengal, which was once the highest rice-producing State, has slipped to fourth place within the 2023-24 crop yr (July-June). Nevertheless, even when the inclusion of output from the zaid (summer season) crop in subsequent estimates might enhance its place, it is going to now not attain the highest. Telangana is strolling up the ladder by enhancing its rice manufacturing quantity yearly, reaching a notch beneath prime grower Uttar Pradesh, information present.

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An evaluation of space, manufacturing and yield information present that the productiveness of rice in West Bengal has been declining. West Bengal was the highest producer at 15.88 million tonnes (mt) with a share of 13.36 per cent within the nationwide output in 2019-20. It has slipped to 11.52 mt with 9.3 per cent share in 2023-24.

Whereas in 2023-24, the paddy acreage was 4.01 million hectares (mh), one other 1 mh has been lined beneath summer season (zaid) season, which is after rabi and earlier than kharif season, taking the entire to about 5 mh. The acreage was 5.49 mh in 2019-20.

Woes of rain-fed areas?

“In comparison with different States, the adoption of climate-resilient varieties is sluggish and the procurement of rice for the Central Pool can also be low. Apart from, the State has not grown when it comes to irrigation protection comparable to Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and Chhattisgarh has accomplished to extend the water availability,” stated an agriculture scientist. Since West Bengal receives a superb quantity of rain throughout the south-west monsoon – 134.42 cm regular (towards 52.2 cm in Andhra Pradesh and 73.5 cm in Telangana) – the rainfed space beneath paddy is extra there, he stated.

Official sources additionally stated with decrease realisation of widespread selection paddy, typically farmers within the State promote beneath minimal help worth (MSP), the growers have been shifting to raised fragrant conventional varieties the place yield is often decrease. Intending so as to add premium worth, the federal government final month notified grading and advertising and marketing guidelines for 5 non-basmati rice styles of West Bengal – Gobindabhog, Tulaipanji, Kataribhog, Kalonunia and Radhunipagal.

The rice procurement in West Bengal was 2.18 mt (or lower than 4 per cent) of all India buy of 56.87 mt in 2022-23.

Want for diversification

However, the share of Telangana in pan-India rice output has been rising yearly and it has reached at 12.94 per cent with a manufacturing of 16.03 mt towards 13.16 per cent share of Uttar Pradesh with 16.3 mt in 2023-24, information present. Telangana was at quantity six with 6.25 per cent share in 2019-20.

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“The necessity for diversification from paddy is extra pressing in Punjab and Haryana attributable to water shortage whereas Telangana, Chhattisgarh, Odisha and West Bengal collectively can offset the manufacturing loss within the Northern states if farmers shift to different crops. Nevertheless, the federal government has to concentrate on West Bengal as any slip in rice output there won’t be good for the nation as soon as diversification goal within the North is met,” stated SK Singh, an agriculture economist.