Punjab may see only a fall in rice production after the floods destroyed the paddy crop in about 2 lakh hectares, said a senior state official. The yield in non-affected areas is likely to be higher, he said. Last year, the State produced 14.36 million tonnes (mt) of rice, including Basmati.
Official sources said more paddy area has been affected compared to basmati area since the non-basmati crops are grown near the rivers where the floods’ impact was the maximum. The State has already sought central assistance to make the field ready for the rabi season crops, where there is no scope of getting any harvest. As the Centre targets to buy 46.35 mt from the crop grown during the current kharif season from across the country which will commence from October, Punjab’s procurement is holds the key since the State contributes the highest quantity of rice.
