ICAR Sees Normal Paddy Sowing This Season

The country will see "normal sowing" of paddy this kharif season, the National Rice Research Institute at the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) said, allaying fears of any further increase in the food grain's prices that had peaked on account of sluggish sowing and higher exports.

There is no cause of worry for the paddy crop either in rainfall-deficient states or even in those states witnessing excessive rainfall and flooding, said AK Nayak, director at the apex rice research institute in the country.

Retail prices of non-basmati rice had increased 3% in the past one month and 11.5% in one year, despite the imposition of a 20% export duty in September 2022. This prompted the government to impose a ban on the export of non-basmati white rice.


In the eastern parts of the country, rainfall activity has picked up, boosting sowing, said Nayak, adding that the sowing window in these areas is open till August. "This will make up for any lack in the beginning of the season," he said.

Talking about northern states such as Punjab and Haryana which have been impacted by excessive rains and flooding, he said the paddy crop has a high tolerance for standing water and any damage is caused only if there is water above the canopy for 6-7 days or if there is submergence.

"No extensive submergence has been reported yet which will cause a significant decline in output," Nayak said. The institute is satisfied with the way sowing of paddy has panned out in southern states during this kharif season, he said.

Despite India seeing a rainfall activity of 5% more than normal, a large part of the country is deficient in rainfall.

Most paddy-growing states such Kerala, West Bengal (Gangetic), Bihar, Jharkhand, UP (East) and Telangana have seen deficient rains. Punjab and Haryana - major rice producers in the North - have received excessive rain, causing concerns about the standing crop.