The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) on Monday said the State’s rice production can go up from present 70 lakh MT to 82 lakh MT by 2017-18 if advanced cultivation measures are taken.
A study titled, ‘Towards Second Green Revolution in Eastern India: A Road Map,’ conducted by the ASSOCHAM the State needs certain significant steps to increase the rice production.
The Rainwater harvesting and storage, expansion of area under high-value cash crops and vegetables, improvement in seed supply to increase the seed replacement rate (SRR), soil treatment to improve the productivity of crops in acidic soils in the region, use of high yielding varieties for water logged and upland areas, discouraging rice cultivation in marginal lands and diversifying in favour of oilseeds and pulses, utilisation of rice fallows are some the steps needs to be taken to jack up the production, the study said.
“Rice production in eastern region of India can reach about 670 lakh MT by 2017-18 from the current level of over 580 lakh MT as the region holds tremendous potential to emerge as ‘Rice Bowl of India,’ as every quintal increase in yield would push rice production by over two million tonnes,” added the ASSOCHAM study.
Currently, West Bengal spearheads the eastern India in paddy production to the tune of about 150 lakh MT followed by eastern UP (140 lakh MT), Odisha (70 lakh MT), Bihar (68 lakh MT), Chhattisgarh (63 lakh MT), Assam (47 lakh MT) and Jharkhand (34 lakh MT).
If India is able to bridge the gap between potential yield and actual yield in rice, the eastern region can achieve a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of about 10 per cent in rice production, highlighted the ASSOCHAM study.
“Rice and fish production needs to be up-scaled in eastern region as it plays a significant role in socio-economic structure of farmers in the region, beside increased production of rice and fisheries resources will also lead to growth in marketing infrastructure and spur job creation in post-harvest, marketing and other related spheres,” said ASSOCHAM national general secretary DS Rawat while releasing the study.
The ASSOCHAM has also suggested for creating a scientific storage, grading and cleaning centre as over 20 per cent of agricultural goods are wasted at various points when farm products move from farm till consumers’ door-step.