The Union government has reported that the price of rice has surged by more than 8 percent since January, primarily due to a decline in Kharif production. This information was shared by Narendra Singh Tomar, Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, in response to a question in the Rajya Sabha.
Factors Contributing to Price Increase
Tomar explained that rice production is expected to be lower compared to the previous year, primarily due to deficient rainfall in key rice-growing states, including Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, and West Bengal. The deficiency in rainfall has impacted Kharif (monsoon) crop yields, leading to reduced rice production.
Price Growth Statistics
The monthly average wholesale price of rice reached ₹3,999 per quintal in November (provisional data), compared to ₹3,675 per quintal in January, marking an increase of 8.81 percent during the year.
Government Measures
Tomar mentioned that the government has implemented various measures to increase domestic availability and stabilize the prices of essential food commodities, including rice. These measures aim to ensure that these food items remain accessible and affordable to consumers across India.
Rice Stock
As of October 1, the government held 204.67 lakh tonnes (lt) of rice stock in the Central pool, surpassing the stocking norms of 102.50 lt.
Promoting Heat-Resistant Wheat Varieties
The government also aims to promote the use of heat-resistant wheat varieties among farmers through public-private partnerships and by providing seeds directly to farmers. Some of these varieties, such as DBW 187 and DBW 222, have shown superior heat tolerance and yield gain compared to local varieties.
Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD) Outbreak in Cattle
In response to another question regarding the outbreak of lumpy skin disease (LSD) in cattle, Union Minister for Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Parshottam Rupala, stated that the disease is presently under control. He reported that approximately 29.45 lakh cases of LSD were reported in the country in 2022, compared to 112 cases in 2021 and 9,817 cases in 2020. Vaccination efforts are underway to manage the disease, with around 6.25 crore animals already vaccinated, while approximately 1.55 lakh animals have unfortunately succumbed to LSD.
