RICE PRODUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT IN INDIA

As per the available report of 2019 the highest rice producing countries in the world are in Asia. They are:

1. China 211 Million Tonnes

2. India 178 MT

3. Indonesia and Bengladesh 55 MT each.

Rice yield generally varies from country to country. While average rice yield in China is 2630 kg per acre, it is 3050 kg in India and in Missouri (USA) it is 3460 kg in 2021.(Data compiled from different sources) These variations in output  could be due to different reasons like geography, climate, quality of seeds etc. However, the technology applied could also be a significant cause.

As of 2021 we have 3 Central Agricultural Universities, 4 Deemed Universities and 63 State Agricultural Universities in India. About 4 lakhs students are studying for various courses in agriculture in India now. The rates of employment of students pass out from agricultural colleges every year is not known. However there is annual increase of deployment by about 3 to 4% all over India.

Now, the concerned ministries and departments of Government of India may consider whether all passed out students could be deployed effectively. They may be used in the following fields.

1. Study to find ways and means to increase the yield per acre considerably.

2. Utilise cent per cent of cultivable land in India. This can be done on lease or co-operative basis.

3. Conduct extensive research to replace all harmful pesticides with fully harmless one. Wherever possible herbal pesticides may be produced.

4. Similarly, all harmful fertilizers may be replaced with harmless ones.

5. Try to develop seeds that may yield more and having pest resistance as much as possible.

6. Cultivators may be encouraged to have storage facilities and marketing arrangements.

Government may not have much of a financial implications in this but only need proper organization.

K V George