The reduction in planted area compared to last year and the depletion of government stocks are likely to lead the coalition government to turn to Telangana for paddy supply in the subsequent Yasangi (Rabi) season.
Post Date – 10:08 PM, Sat – 11/26/22
Hyderabad: The reduction in planted area compared to last year and the depletion of government stocks are likely to lead the coalition government to turn to Telangana for paddy supply in the subsequent Yasangi (Rabi) season. Apart from Telangana, only a few states like Odisha, Chhattisgarh and West Bengal grow paddy during the Yasangi season.
Nationally, about 40.3 million hectares (99.5 million acres) of rice were planted during this year’s Kharif (Vaanakalam). This is a decrease of 2 million hectares (4.9 million acres) compared to last year’s 423 million hectares (1.045 billion acres). Paddy area and production are said to be affected in many states due to delayed monsoon and erratic rains.
Officials fear this could reduce rice production by nearly 7 million tonnes from last year, according to preliminary estimates. While the final rice production in 2021-22 is 112 million tonnes, it is expected to reach around 105 million tonnes in the recently concluded Kharif season.
In this case, the center is expected to turn to Telangana as well as states like Odisha, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh, which grow rice even in the Yasangi season.
“Among them, Telangana has the largest rice planting area. In Yasangi 2021-22, Telangana has about 3.421 million acres of rice planting. This year, it may increase by 500,000 acres,” an agriculture ministry official said.
During Vaanakalam 2022-23, about 6.5 million acres of land in Telangana are under rice cultivation and the estimated rice production will reach 1.41 million tonnes. Of this, the state government has proposed to purchase nearly 9 million tonnes. As of Friday, more than 2.8 million tonnes of paddy had been procured.
Officials noted that during Yasangi last year, the federal government initially refused to purchase parboiled rice from Telangana, citing excess stock. In July, however, it reversed course and agreed to purchase 800,000 tonnes of parboiled rice from Yasangi stockpiles.
“We have been encouraging farmers to diversify their crops. However, even in the Yasangi season, most farmers continue to plant rice. Since the center has been insisting on raw rice, our supply has decreased. But if parboiled rice is also required this year, then It will be a big boost for farmers,” the officials said.
