Bumper crop likely in 2010-11 if monsoon is uniform: Sharad Pawar

Given the sowing trend so far, the country can expect a bumper crop if the monsoon is uniform this year, Union food and agriculture minister Sharad Pawar said today.

"Till yesterday, the sowing feedback was encouraging. If the country gets uniform monsoon, we will have a bumper crop," Pawar said during a press conference on the sidelines of a workshop on 'Bringing the Green Revolution to the Eastern Region'.

Quoting Met department reports, he said there has been 98% rainfall till now this month, and it is expected to go up to 102% in August.

He said that according to latest sowing reports, the area under rice cultivation rose to 72 lakh hectares this year from 68 lakh hectares in 2009 while that for pulses increased to 9.7 lakh hectares from 7.3 lakh hectares last year.

The area under bajra cultivation increased from 12.8 hectares to 18.1 lakh hectares this year, while that for coarse grain rose to 58 lakh hectares from 53 lakh hectares in 2009. While the area under sugar sowing increased by six lakh hectares, cotton cultivation acreage stood at 66 lakh hectares from 48 lakh hectares last year.

But the sowing area for maize was down by three lakh hectares, the minister said, without specifying the reasons.

In reply to a question, Pawar indicated that his ministry would take a call on imposing sugar import duty and decontrolling sugar industry duty after assessing the crop situation of sugarcane in August.

Stating that cultivation of hybrid rice should be taken up as a mission in the eastern region, Pawar said that the agriculture ministry also proposes to award people who effect increased production of hybrid rice to the extent of 25%.

He said that minister of state for food and agriculture K V Thomas had visited China to study the use of hybrid seeds in rice cultivation and, subsequently, submitted a report to him.

The government wants to ensure the quality and affordability of hybrid seeds before allowing their use, he said, adding that farmers may need governmental support to buy them.

Earlier, Union agriculture secretary PK Basu had said that high cost was a barrier to the adaptability of hybrid seeds in India.

Hybrid seeds cost Rs200 per kg in India, against Rs23 in the Philippines, he had added.

China has been able to bring 60% of its cultivation area under hybrid coverage, Pawar said, adding that the rice production in that country was 6.6 tonnes per hectare against India's average of 3.3 tonnes.

Pointing out that China has the advantage of having 3,000 seed companies, he said the government will have to encourage private companies in the sector.

A national-level task force on hybrid seeds, headed by an additional secretary in the agriculture department, would be formed, Pawar said.

Calling for time-bound delivery of agricultural services to farmers, he said that states should set up empowered groups of ministers under their respective chief ministers to cover all aspects of the agricultural sector.