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Govt to expand hybrid rice cultivation area

By SIVASISH THAKUR

GUWAHATI, April 11 � In an initiative aimed at boosting hybrid rice cultivation in an unprecedented manner, the State has set an ambitious target of expanding the area under hybrid rice cultivation to 20 per cent of the total rice producing area.

At present, a meagre 2.4 per cent (62,743 hectares) of the total area under rice cultivation (27.30 lakh hectares) is covered by hybrid rice farming. This area is expected to be enhanced to 5.46 lakh hectares through implementation of the new scheme involving a cost of Rs 417 crore during 2012-13.

�We plan to bridge the huge gap between rice productivity in the State and the national average by popularising hybrid farming. With the increase in productivity and total production, the net income of the farmers will also increase,� Agriculture Minister Nilamani Sen Deka told The Assam Tribune.

It is estimated that expanding the area under hybrid cultivation to 20 per cent of the total rice, cultivation area will yield 36.70 lakh MT produce during 2012-13. The productivity rate estimated is 6,765 kg per hectare. Of the estimated 36.70 lakh MT, winter rice and summer rice will account for 15.85 lakh MT and 20.85 lakh MT, respectively.

At present (2010-11), the productivity of rice per hectare is 1,983 kg as against the national average of 2,240 kg.

The Agriculture Department has set an overall target of rice production of 78.30 lakh MT in 2012-13, and significantly, the yield from hybrid cultivation will account for nearly half of it while covering only one-fifth of the total rice cropland.

The State�s rice production was 50.33 lakh MT in 2010-11, and anticipated production in 2011-12 is 52.50 lakh MT.

Dr K Borkakati, Director, Agriculture, Assam, said that going for hybrid rice in a big way was critical to meeting overall food security as well as increasing the net income of the farming community by way of enhanced production and productivity.

�At micro level, it will boost farmers� income, generate marketable surplus at the individual farmer�s level and meet their food and nutritional security, while at macro level it will make the State self-sustainable in rice production and help it export rice,� he said.

Apart from the favourable geo-climatic conditions of the State in the form of abundant rainfall and fertile soil, it is expected that installation of irrigation facilities under different schemes like RKVY, AACP, NFSM, etc., will encourage farmers to explore the risk-free Rabi season for Boro rice cultivation.

The new scheme will also entail a requirement of 81,900 quintal seeds besides a huge quantity of chemical as well as bio-fertilizer.

Some of the hybrid varieties recommended by the Assam Agricultural University (AAU) are Arize 6444, DRRH 1, KRH 2, etc.

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