Under-production in Kharif to be compensated in Rabi: offical

Kolkata, Nov 3 : West Bengal Agriculture Secretary Sanjeev Chopra today said under-production in the Kharif season following insufficient rains would be compensated in the Rabi season in this 2009-2010 financial year.

Addressing a press conference, organised by the Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC) here, he said the state goverment was aiming at five to seven per cent annual growth in agriculture in the state.

About 105 lakh tonne of paddy was produced during Kharif season last year, while the total production stood at 100 lakh tonne in this Kharif season, he said.

Early sowing of seeds were being carried out for the Rabi season to compensate under-production in the Kharif season, he added.

Dr Chopra said the government would set up a cell in Agriclture Department in the Writers' Buildings soon to monitor quality and prices of fertilisers.

On reported scarcity of fertilisers in the state, the Secretary said there was enough stock in macro level. There might be some scarcity of fertiliser of some particular brands.

''Sometime farmers seek some particular brands of fertilisers, but there is no scarcity in the state, '' he stated.

The government was carrying out precautionary checking of potatoes stored in the government's cold storages for the prevention of Late Blight disease of potatoes, he said, adding, sporadic Late Blight cases were recorded in Hooghly district last year.

''Idealy the goverment wants that about 25 lack acre of land will be used under potato cultivation, but as the prices of potatoes are high, this year more land are used for potato cultivation,'' Dr Chopra added.

''Due to over production this year, prices of potatoes will be low next year,'' he added.

The Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC), along with the West Bengal government, would organise ''Agro Protech 2009'', a three-day mega summit and exposition on Indian agriculture sector from November 5 in the city.

The theme of the summit will be ''Ensuring Food Security and Enhancing Global Competitiveness''.

Gujarat, Orissa, Assam, Andaman and Nicobar islands, Lakshadeep, Manipur and Bihar along with West Bengal would participate in the summit.

Netherlands, Nepal and Bhutan would also participate in the summit.

--UNI

(c) 2009 Published with permission from United News of India.
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