The unseasonal rain in Bengal is likely to hit production of the ‘Boro’ variey of paddy. Production is already under pressure due to low groundwater levels after last year’s drought and lack of irrigation.
Dhabaleswar Konar, former director of agriculture, of the state, said, ?such untimely rain is not good for boro paddy. Plants are already in milking condition, that is the grains are about to be formed. Strong wind and heavy shower may actually ruin formation of rice grain.?
?But now that flowers have come rain will spoil formation of grain,? Konar said.
West Bengal produces around 40 lakh tonne of Boro rice per year. Last year production of Boro rice in the state fell to 33-34 lakh tonne owing to drought like conditions.
?Underground water level has gone down drastically last year due to drought. The farmers could sow paddy in 10 lakh hectare this summer,? said Naren De, state agriculture minister.
Apart from that, lack of irrigation and availability of seeds will also impact Boro productivity this year. In West Bengal, about 62% of the land is irrigated. Districts like Burdwan, Birbhum, Nadia and Hooghly have the highest productivity and account for almost 27% rice acreage and 32% production.
West Bengal produces around 14.5 million tonne paddy every year. ?We will be able to produce around 25-26 lakh tonne boro paddy this year,? De said. ?But that will not create a shortage in the state as the amount is sufficient to take care of internal consumption,? he added.