Question : Production of Paddy

(a) whether lower production of paddy has been estimated due to drought in certain parts of the country;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether it is fact that the rice stock of the country is depleting due to erratic monsoon in rice growing areas of the country;

(d) if so, the details thereof and the steps taken by the Central Government in this regard; and

(e) whether the proposal of any scheme to provide relief to the affected farmers is under consideration of the Government and if so, the details thereof?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

‡ãðŠãäÓã ??? ????? ?????? ½ãâ¨ããÊã¾ã ½ãñâ À㕾㠽ãâ¨ããè ( SHRI MOHANBHAI KUNDARIA )

(a) & (b): Data on production of paddy is maintained in terms of rice. As per First Advance Estimates for 2015-16, the production of Kharif rice in the country is estimated at 90.61 million tonnes which is marginally lower than the production of 90.86 million tonnes of Kharif rice during last year. However, production of rice during 2015-16 is higher than its five years (2009-10 to 2013-14) average production in the country.

(c) & (d): As on 1st November, 2015, there was a stock of 112.92 lakh tonnes as against the stocking norm of 102.50 lakh tonnes of rice under Central Pool to provide enough quantity for the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) and other welfare schemes and also for making rice available in open market at affordable prices.


Contd…2/-
-2-


(e): In view of losses suffered by States in production of crops on account of drought during kharif 2015, following State Governments have submitted Memoranda seeking financial assistance from Government of India:-

Sl.No. State
1 Karnataka
2 Chhattisgarh
3 Madhya Pradesh
4 Maharashtra
5 Odisha
6 Uttar Pradesh
7 Telangana


Inter-Ministerial Central Teams (IMCTs) have visited the States of Karnataka, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. An amount of Rs.1540.20 crore has already been approved for Karnataka from National Disaster Relief Fund (NDRF). The proposals from other States are at various stages of processing/finalization.






******