Question : Production of Paddy-Rice

(a) the details of acreage and production of paddy/rice in the country during the last three years and the current year, State-wise along with the percentage share of rice in the total foodgrain production in the country and the methodology being adopted to assess the grain output and the apprehension of experts on such an assessment method;

(b) whether the production of paddy has declined/stagnated since last decade while the price of rice has increased four-fold in the country and if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;

(c) whether the Government proposes to focus on comprehensive research to develop and explore indigenous rice varieties and set up a marketing network to ensure supply of such rice varieties to the farmers for cultivation in the country and if so, the details thereof;

(d) whether the Government proposes to upgrade the Seed Research Centre, Kuttanad to National Institute of Paddy Research and if so, the details thereof and the steps taken in this regard;

(e) whether the Government has launched any special scheme to promote paddy production in various parts of the country including the abandoned fields and if so, the details thereof; and

(f) the steps taken/being taken by the Government to transform and modernize the paddy cultivation in the country?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

‡ãðŠãäÓã ??? ????? ?????? ½ãâ¨ããÊã¾ã ½ãñâ À㕾㠽ãâ¨ããè ( SHRI S.S. AHLUWALIA)


(a): First Advance Estimates of production (covering only kharif crops) are normally released in September and, therefore, it is too early to have firm assessment of production of paddy/rice for the current year. However, as per latest report based on eye assessment of area coverage, total area coverage under rice/paddy during the current year i.e. 2016-17 (as on 05.08.2016) has been higher than the area coverage during the corresponding period of last year. State-wise details of area and production of rice along with percentage of rice to the total foodgrain production during the last three years i.e. 2013-14 to 2015-16 are given in the Annexure.

The responsibility of collection, compilation and supply of crop-wise data on area, production and yield rests with States/UTs. Crop-wise production estimates are prepared by States/UTs on the basis of area coverage and yield assessment through Crop Cutting Experiments (CCEs) in 20% sample village in the State/UT. To ensure quality of field data, sample checks are done under the Improvement of Crops Statistics (ICS) Scheme.

In order to maintain quality and stability in the national level estimates, the data on area, production and yield received from State Governments are also validated in the Directorate of Economics & Statistics, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare based upon the alternative sources of information e.g. the estimates prepared by Mahalanobis National Crop Forecast Centre (MNCFC) on the basis of remote sensing technology, the estimates of Institute of Economic Growth prepared through econometric modeling, State-wise past trends in area, production and yield of different crops, trends in procurement and prices, weather rainfall conditions etc. Thus, the present system of collection of data and preparation of agricultural estimates is based on an internationally accepted, sound and robust statistical methodology and there is no apprehension on the assessment method.

(b): Production of rice in the country has increased from 91.79 million tonnes in 2005-06 to 104.32 million tonnes in 2015-16 (Fourth Advance Estimates). However, as per Wholesale Price Index (WPI), the Wholesale Price of Rice during the above period has increased by 125%. The reasons for rise in price of rice include increased demand, price trends in international markets, rise in Minimum Support Price (MSP) etc.

(c): Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)- National Rice Research Institute (NRRI), Cuttack undertook research programme on improvement of indigenous rice varieties and developed aromatic short grain rice varieties which are locally preferred by farmers. These varieties are released and notified and are in the seed chain. NRRI is involved in production of breeder seed of these varieties as per the demand. Besides, Protection of Plant Varieties & Farmers’ Rights Authority (PPV & FRA) facilitates registration and conservation of traditional rice varieties cultivated across the country. So far, 511 farmers’ varieties have been registered by PPV&FRA.
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(d): There is no Seed Research Centre of ICAR at Kuttanad in Kerala and hence the question of its upgradation does not arise.

(e) & (f): In order to increase the production of foodgrains including rice, the Government is implementing National Food Security Mission (NFSM). NFSM-Rice is being implemented in 194 districts of 25 States, in which various technologies/ interventions are being promoted amongst the farmers. Bringing Green Revolution to Eastern India (BGREI) programme is also being implemented in eastern states of India (Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha, Eastern Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal) to address the productivity constraints of rice based cropping systems.

The modern techniques such as aerobic rice, integrated crop management, machine operated dry direct sowing, mechanical transplanting and harvesting, adoption of new hybrids and varieties, etc are also being encouraged. The ICAR institutes and State Agriculture Universities (SAUs) regularly organize site visits, kisan melas, farmers’ field days, seed days and training programmes to educate the farmers about new technologies/varieties.