UP paddy production likely to decline sharply

LUCKNOW: Paddy production in Uttar Pradesh could decline sharply to about 110 lakh metric tonnes this year as the state agriculture department revises its production estimates for the year. What was initially being seen as a decline in production of paddy to 131 lakh tonnes is now likely to be revised to as low as 110 lakh tonnes.

Compounding the problem of drought in large parts of the state, some districts in are now left reeling with sudden floods. River water released by Nepal has flooded 13 districts of the state and the standing crops in these areas have been destroyed.

Agriculture department officials say that as per the final figures emerging from field survey, the total area under paddy cultivation in the state is expected to be only 40 lakh hectares. The government had targeted paddy cultivation on about 60 lakh hectares this year.

But as the realities of a bad monsoon year started setting in and farmers refrained from sowing water intensive paddy, initial estimates by the agriculture department in early August had suggested paddy cultivation on about 52 lakh hectares. Now after much of the field data has been compiled agriculture department estimates that paddy cultivation would decline further to about 40 lakh hectares, this is about 30% less area under paddy cultivation as compared to the target for the year.

The estimate for paddy production has also gone under similar revision and as against the target for this year of 135 lakh tonnes, latest estimates point out that paddy production could be in the region of 110 lakh tonnes only.
To add to the problem of scanty rains which has led to 59 of the 71 districts in Uttar Pradesh being declared drought hit, now in a paradox for farmers some districts are facing flood situations.

River water released by Nepal has added to the woes and crops standing in 13 districts have been affected badly. About 5 lakh hectares of agricultural land in these districts have been submerged in water, which would compound the shortfall in agricultural produce this year. Though not a new phenomenon, as water released by Nepal has been inundating villages in the past also, this year the flood situation would compound the shortfall in kharif production.