“Floods will not impact food grains production”

Despite four lakh hectares being affected by floods there will not be any adverse impact on the production of food grains in the State, according to Agricultural Production Commissioner and Principal Secretary (Agriculture) Ram Mohan Rao. As on January 17, the area coverage was 42.4 lakh hectares against 38.9 lakh hectares on January 18, 2010. The figure was arrived at after taking into account total coverage during Kharif 2010 season (April-September) and Rabi 2010-2011 (October 2010-March 2011).

In the case of paddy and pulses, the extent of coverage is one lakh hectares more than that of the previous year. In respect of millets, it is 50,000 hectares more.

Three more crops – cotton, sugarcane and oilseeds – were also taken into account for calculating the coverage and production. Swaran Singh, Principal Secretary (Food), says till now, 1.97 lakh tonnes of paddy have been procured through the Civil Supplies Corporation.