Kharif paddy sowing almost 15% lesser than last year, shows data

The drop in acreage has triggered fears of the government clamping down in exports as it did in the case of wheat in May

Acreage under paddy, the main food grain grown during the kharif season, continued to be almost 15 per cent less than the same period last year, raising concerns of an at least 10-12 million tonnes (mt) drop in production.

The acreage has been down due to scanty rainfall in the main paddy-growing states of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, and Odisha. Together, the five states account for more than 40 per cent of India’s total annual rice production, which is estimated to be over 120 mt.

With around 24 per cent of normal average area in which paddy is