CHANDIGARH (Commoditiescontrol) - Haryana, the leading Basmati rice producing state in the country, looks to scale new height in Basmati rice production. This assumption is based on the increased rice production target set by the State department of agriculture for the next khariff season.
Interestingly, Basmati rice is cultivation is carried out in about 60 per cent area of total rice acreage in the state. Non Basmati rice is grown in Rest 40 per cent area. Hence, Basmati rice production will automatically increase if total rice production target is raised.
According to department of agriculture, rice production target is set at 41.40 lakh tonnes for next khariff season of 2015-16. Haryana produced 40.06 lakh tonnes rice in current crop year. Last year, 22.13 lakh tonnes Basmati rice was grown which was 63 per cent of total output. Remaining 17.93 lakh tonnes (37 per cent) production was of non Basmati rice.
Haryana’s Basmati production reached highest level last year. If the production increases as per the target, the state may better earlier performance, as it will set a new production record.
Farmers are opting for Basmati rice sowing due to poor monsoon prediction.
Monsoon rain is forecast to below normal this year. Hence, the farmers will prefer sowing of Basmati crop, which can survive on less rain water. Non Basmati rice needs more water for irrigation compared to Basmati crop. However, the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) today said that monsoon will hit Kerala on 30th May, two days ahead of the schedule, with an error window of 4 days.
(By Commoditiescontrol Bureau; +91-22-61391533)