GUWAHATI, May 21 � The State is expected to record a total rice production of 50.86 lakh metric tonnes during 2010-11, said sources in the Agriculture Department, quoting the data of the State�s Economics and Statistics Directorate.
If this expectation comes true, then the State is likely to produce 6.78 lakh metric tonnes of rice more in 2010-11, compared to 2009-10, sources said.
Sources apprised this correspondent that in 2009-10, the State had recorded a total rice production of 44.08 lakh metric tonnes, while in 2008-09, it could produce 40.70 lakh metric tonnes of rice.
It needs mention here that during the Third Advance Estimate made by the Economics and Statistics Directorate, in the last part of April this year, it was estimated that the total rice production of the State would stand at 50.74 lakh metric tonnes.
During that assessment, it was expected that the State would be able to produce autumn rice at the rate of 1,118 kilograms (kgs) per hectare. But now, after the final estimate, it has come out to be 1,155 kgs per hectare. Thus, the total production of autumn rice of the State during 2010-11 has shot up to 3.56 lakh metric tonnes, against the 3.44 lakh metric tonnes expected during the Third Advance Estimate made by the Directorate of Economics and Statistics, said the sources.
It is pertinent to mention here that according to the Third Advance Estimate made by the Directorate of Economics and Statistics, the State was expected to produce 38.58 lakh metric tonnes of winter rice and 8.72 lakh metric tonnes of summer rice in 2010-11.
Harvest of winter rice is over and the final estimate on its total production will be worked out shortly. Then again, harvesting of the summer rice is on and the final estimate on the total production of this variety of rice is expected within a month or two, said the sources.
