Haryana's rice output hits all-time high at 39.76 LT

CHANDIGARH: Haryana has recorded all-time high rice production at 39.76 lakh tonnes (LT) during 2012-13 season despite scanty rainfall last year.

The state recorded its highest-ever rice production of 39.76 LT since the inception of the state in 1966, an official spokesman of Haryana Agriculture Department said here today.

This has been achieved despite the state received 36.8 per cent less rainfall as against the normal rainfall from May to September, 2012, he added.

In case of coarse rice, 23.54 LT of the crop was produced with a productivity of 40.03 quintals per hectare in an area of 5.88 lakh hectares has been achieved.

Similarly, the production of basmati rice was also achieved at 16.22 LT with a productivity of 25.87 quintals per hectare in an area of 6.27 lakh hectares which was also the highest since 1966-67.

He said that as statistics of area, average yield and production of all Kharif crops 2012-13 has been received, the state has made some other achievements in the agriculture sector.

The productivity of kharif foodgrains in 2012-13 is 2,819 kg per hectare, which is the highest so far.

He said the state also achieved productivity of cotton at 681 kgs per hectare (Lint) and the total production of cotton was 23.84 lakh bales.

Similarly, the productivity of Bjara was 1,925 kg per hectare and that of maize 2,556 kg per hectare. Also, the productivity of Sugarcane during 2011-2012 was 73,253 kg per hectare which is the highest since 1966-67.

He said all these achievements could only be made possible as the state government supplied 254 lakh units of more electricity per day to farm sector from May to September, kharif 2012-13 as against 2011-12.