The Government of India is planning to introduce the hybrid rice variety in order to further increase rice productivity at the home turf Rice is regarded as a staple food item in India and is in high demand among domestic consumers. With demand for rice being high, the government has a huge responsibility to ensure that consumers continue to get adequate supply of the commodity across the country. As a result, the government cannot solely depend on paddy cultivated by farmers but also import the same from the global markets. However, it is difficult for the government to continue importing huge quantities of rice as this would lead to rise in the food inflation rates. Therefore, the government should implement certain technologies that will help farmers to increase rice productivity at the home turf.
 In a bid to increase paddy cultivation, the Government of India (GoI) is encouraging farmers to cultivate the hybrid rice variety. “Introduction of the hybrid rice variety would stabilise the high demand for rice in the country. Resultantly, adequate rice would be available in the country, which would help in keeping the prices of the commodity reasonable,” says Alok Agarwal, director of Santi Rice Mills Private Limited, a small-sized rice exporter in Kolkata. Challenges in hybrid rice cultivation
Although the new variety would be a major booster for the agriculture sector, there are several hurdles that the government needs to overcome in order to make the initiative successful. Firstly, the farmers need to get the hybrid rice seeds certified in order to avail subsidies. The task of getting the seeds certified is cumbersome for farmers and has restricted them from increasing the acreage of the hybrid rice variety. Therefore, GoI is planning to reframe the rules in order to ease farmers’ burden.
Secondly, the new variety of rice seeds isexpensive for farmers due to the complex technology, which is necessary in developing them. In this context, Arjuna Rao, director of Surya Rice, a mid-sized rice exporter in Bengaluru, says, “This may lead to an increase in the cost production of the rice variety, thereby making it unfeasible for farmers to purchase them. Therefore, GoI should ensure that the rice seeds are available at reasonable rates or provide financial help to farmers to purchase the new hybrid seeds.”
GoI’s decision
Despite several challenges, GoI is optimistic about the introduction of the new variety as it expects the hybrid rice variety to bring about an overall increase in rice production in the country. GoI is also implementing certain measures in order to help farmers cultivate hybrid rice. Therefore, it is expected that GoI will implement the revised rules for cultivation of the new variety from 2010-11.
The issue was put forward in a meeting that was held in the beginning of May with the representatives from all leading rice producing states such as Chattisgarh, West Bengal and Orissa, among others. The introduction of hybrid rice has been welcomed by the leading rice growing states in India. It is expected that the new variety has the potential of increasing paddy production by 15-20% in the hybrid rice growing areas.
The National Food Security Mission (NFSM) is planning to increase the hybrid rice cultivation. As a result, the acreage of the new variety is expected to rise by 2011-12.
Sabrina Mitchell |
