India's rice production may fall by 10-12 mn tonnes during the Kharif season this year: Food Secretary

The government stated on Friday that a decline in the area used for planting paddy might cause India's production of rice to drop by 10 to 12 million tonnes during the current Kharif season.
The nation will have a surplus of rice, according to Food Secretary Sudhanshu Pandey.

He emphasised that the lack of rain in various states is to blame for the 38 lakh hectare decrease in paddy acreage so far this kharif season.


The Kharif season accounts for almost 80% of India's total rice production.

"Loss of production of rice may be 10 million tonnes and in the worst case it can be 12 million tonnes this year," he told reporters here. However, given on the decline in acreage and average yield, the secretary stated that this is just an initial estimate.


According to Pandey, the production decline may be less severe because states with abundant rains may see an increase in yield.

130.29 million tonnes of rice are expected to be produced overall in the crop year 2021–22 (July–June).
It exceeds the 116.44 million tonnes average production over the previous five years by 13.85 million tonnes.

In response to a query on whether the government will continue the Prime Minister Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana's free foodgrain programme, the secretary remained silent.