Bihar is all set to reap a grand paddy harvest this season after two years of low paddy harvest in 2009 and 2010. With recent precipitation compensating for deficient rain in south Bihar districts in July, agricultural scene has brightened up. The mood among farmers have changed from that of despair to one of high spirits, and consumes worried at ever-rising prices have reason to take heart.
As compared to last year, the area under paddy cultivation has gone up by about 50% this year. Against 24 lakh hectares in 2010, the paddy acreage has increased to 35 lakh hectares.
“The state will witness bumper paddy harvest this kharif season. Of late, there were some concerns over drought-like situation in some parts of south Bihar due to lack of rains. But recent spells of rain have removed all such concerns,” agriculture production commissioner Ashok Kumar Sinha told