CRRI indicates rice production to increase on current pace of monsoon

KOLKATA: Central Rice Research Institute (CRRI) has indicated that rice production may go up to 105-106 million tonnes if monsoon continues in the current pace. Last year the rice production went down to 102.54 million tonnes due to late arrival of monsoons in June 2014 delaying the kharif main rice crop planting process in many key rice growing areas.

Talking to ET, Trilochon Mohapatra, director, CRRI said "The monsoon has gathered momentum across most parts of India. If this continues during July also we are hopeful that rice production will go up to 105 -106 million tonnes."
The CRRI director said that sowing has begun in most parts of the country and transplantation of the saplings will begin in first week of July. "Farmers require good rains during July for transplantation. In regions where rains will be less farmers can use short duration paddy variety."

Agriculture officials in West Bengal, the largest rice producing state in the country said that nursery preparation for paddy has picked up in south Bengal as rains have picked up. "Generally nursery preparation begins in third week of June in Bengal. Monsoon has picked up in the state and nursery preparation is in full swing now. The sowing will start from first week of July," they said.