1. RICE PRODUCTION IN WEST BENGAL

2. Rice Seasons Season Duration Characteristics Aus (Autumn)
April - September
Upland, light soil condition, rainfed
Aman (Kharif)
June - November
Medium to lowland, soil moisture retained for longer period, rainfed, long duration varieties ; suffers from flooding, drought and coastal salinity
Boro (summer)
Nov./Dec - May
Low land irrigated

3. Rice Area (m ha) % Boro area 10.07 26.4 41.7 Characteristic Year IndiaWB
Bangladesh
Total
43.77
5.72
11.0
Kharif/Aman area
39.36
4.21
5.91
Autumn/Aus
0.28
1.03
Boro
4.41
1.51
4.06
% Boro area
10.07
26.4
41.7

4. Rice Productivity (t/ha)
Characteristic
Year
India WB
Bangladesh
( )
Total
2.20
2.55
2.94
Kharif/ Aman
2.02
2.4
2.29
Autumn/Aus
1.46
2.18
2.05
Boro
3.05
2.99
3.90

5. Stress prone area (m ha)
Total
Drought prone (%)
Flood prone (%)
Coastal salinity WB
5.72
1.46 (26)
1.03 (18)
0.44 (8)
Bangladesh 11
3.3 (30)
2.86 (26)
1.98 (18)

6. Few facts about Rice Production in India & Bangladesh
Rice productivity in Bangladesh (BD) increased during 20 yrs period of to from 1.71 to 2.94 t/ha whereas in India ,it rose from 1.75 to 2.2 t/ha. During same period rice production in BD almost doubled, from mt to mt, whereas in India, it increased from to million tonnes.
From to , the Boro area in BD increased from 28% to 42% and productivity from 2.8 t/ha to 3.9 t/ha due to irrigation increase from shallow TWs, better yielding varieties and high fertilizer use.
In WB during last 10 years there was increase in productivity of Aus (20-22%) and Aman but Boro remained stagnant ( )

7. Reasons for higher productivity in Bangladesh
Larger boro rice area (42%) with 100% irrigation. Boro contributes 55% of total rice production.
Primarily HYVs and hybrids (approx. 7%)
Good boro season rice varieties
Higher (2430 mm annual) & extended period (May to October) rain fall
Soils suitable for rice, generally heavy textured & fertile.

8. Suggested varieties for WB
Aus: In major areas like Jalpaiguri, Coochbehar, Dinajpur, Murshidabad and Nadia there is need to evaluate/promote HYVs and hybrids.
Aman:
In Gangetic / Damodar/ Kangsaboti river plains promote flood tolerant (Sub1) varieties
Replace Swarna with Swarna-Sub1 particularly in Hooghly, Burdwan, Lowlands of Murshidabad, Nadia, 24 parganas (North), Howrah, Purba Medinipur etc.
In Western part promote drought tolerant varieties like Sahbhagi dhan, Susk Samrat.
For coastal areas salinity tolerant vareities (e.g CR dhan 405/406; CSR 36; IR64-Saltol) may be more suitable. Varieties with both flash flood and salinity tolerance are needed.
Boro
Promotion of hybrids & HYVs suited for boro.
For coastal areas promote salinity tolerant varieties like CR dhan 405 (IR64-Saltol; BR28-Saltol etc.)

9. Suggested Actions for WB
Immediate
Characterization of stress-prone areas
Development and implementation of varietal and seed plan for different areas and seasons
Replace mega variety Swarna (MTU2029) with its improved version (Swarna Sub1)
Varietal replacement
Promote drought tolerant rice varieties in drought-prone areas
Improve seed replacement
Ensuring availability of quality seed of suitable varieties
Increase in boro area by increasing irrigation facilities and promoting salinity tolerant rice varieties in coastal saline areas
Timely seeding & transplanting

10. Suggested Actions Long term
Increase boro area by increasing irrigation facilities.
Develop better HYVs & hybrids for boro and aus seasons
Multiple stress tolerant (salinity + submergence tolerant \; stagnant flood + flash flood; drought + submergence tolerant) rice varieties particularly for Aman

11. Policy Issues Collaboration among SAARC countries
Varietal and seed exchange
Joint evaluation of varieties
Acceptance of research data from one country for the varietal release in other country
Joint release of varieties for more than one country for similar agro-climatic condition etc.