Bihar’s Nalanda district beats China’s paddy production record

The Nalanda district in Bihar has set a new global record in paddy production under field demonstration of intensified rice cultivation.  Cultivation of paddy under the 'system of rice intensification' (SRI) in wetland farming organised at farmer's field during Kharif 2011 has yielded a record 22.4 tonnes per hactare while dry land cultivation yielded 20.16 tonnes per hectare.

Both dry land and wetland yields have thus surpassed the yield of 19 tonnes/ha, which was recorded earlier in China, agriculture and food processing industries minister Sharad Pawar told the Lok Sabha today.

He said the government has been providing financial assistance of Rs3,000 for organising demonstrations on 0.4 hectare each on SRI under the National Food Security Mission-Rice (NFSM-Rice) in the identified districts of 16 states.

Similarly, under the sub-scheme 'bringing green revolution in Eastern India (BGREI)' of Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY), rice crop promotion programmes, including SRI are being extended to the farmers in the seven states of eastern India.

Besides, the farmers are being trained by organising farmers field school (FFS) at panchayat level by the state department of agriculture of the concerned states. The government is providing financial assistance of Rs17,000 per training of 30 farmers under NFSM and other crop development programmes, he added.

Rs1,850 crore allocated for horticulture in 2012-13