Odisha expects to achieve Kharif paddy production target

Bhubaneswar, Aug 20 (IANS) Odisha is hopeful of achieving its target of about nine million tonnes of paddy production for the Kharif season despite low sowing due to erratic rainfall in many places, an official said Monday.

The state government had targeted four million hectres of area under Kharif paddy cultivation this season, the state's agriculture department director R.Santhagopalan told IANS.

Although sowing and transplantation was delayed in four percent of the targeted area, it picked up subsequently. The rain the state received during past 20 days made up the shortfall, he said.

As on Monday, the area where the agricultural operation was delayed stands at only two percent of the targeted area. "That could be still made up if we receive some more rains in those areas," Santhagopalan added.

"We are still hopeful of achieving nine million tonnes of paddy production target for this year's Kharif season," he said.

Odisha contributes about a tenth of India's total rice production. A good monsoon is crucial for the state which has about 73 percent of its work force engaged in the agriculture sector. Monsoon normally reaches the state by June 10. However, this year, it was delayed by a week.