1. Presentation by Group-II Director of Agriculture, West Bengal
Strategy to enhance productivity and production of paddy in stress prone areas (rainfed, flood prone etc)
Presentation by Group-II
Dr. P. Bhattacharyya
Director of Agriculture, West Bengal

2. Group- 2 Bihar Jharkhand Chhattisgarh Odisha West Bengal Punjab
Haryana
Andhra Pradesh
Tamil Nadu
Jammu & Kashmir

3. Present Status of Paddy Area under different Stresses
SI. No
State
Total Area under Kharif Paddy (in Lakh ha)
Area under different Stress Condition
(in Lakh Ha)
Total stressed area (Lakh ha)
Flood
Drought
Salinity 1
Bihar
34.00 12 14
2.5
28.50 2
Chattisgarh
37.18
8.0
8.00 3
Odisha
36.00
11.6
12.6
1.5
25.70 4
Haryana
13.54
4.14 5
Andhra Pradesh
16.50
2.0
1.7
5.70 6
West Bengal
42.00
7.80
11.50
1.25
20.55 7
Jammu & Kashmir
2.57
0.15
0.27
0.05
0.47 8
Jharkhand
17.00
14.0
14.00
TOTAL
198.79
33.55
62.07
11.44
107.06

4. Constraints
Inadequate availability of stress tolerant high-yielding varieties suitable for drought/flood/salinity eco-systems.
Fragmented land holdings thereby, leading to less mechanization.
Severe weed infestation in rainfed upland rice eco-systems.
Flash floods causing moderate to complete damage to crop.
Sometimes delayed monsoon results in late sowing leading to low productivity.
Deficiency of micronutrients.
Imbalanced use of fertilizer.

5. STRATEGIES FOR STRESS (FLOOD PRONE) AREAS
Selection of suitable submergence tolerant varieties, viz. Swarna Sub-1, etc.
Promotion of community nurseries.
Closer spacing with higher nos. of seedlings per hill for late transplanting.
Staggered sowing of nursery at 10 days interval and double transplanting of long duration varieties.
Early transplanting is advocated.

6. STRATEGIES FOR STRESS PRONE (RAINFED) AREAS
Selection of suitable drought tolerant HYVs (e.g. Sahbhagi Dhan, Susk Samrat, Puspa, etc.).
Establishment of community nursery near water sources.
Creation of water harvesting structures like, check-dam, farm pond, etc. under BGREI, NMSA, RKVY, convergence with MNREGA, State Plan to capture run off water and development of efficient water delivery system.
Application of organic manures.
Popularization of direct sowing by Zero Till Seed Drill and Drum Seeder.
Integrated weed management.
Adopting closer spacing.

7. STRATERGIES FOR SALINITY PRONE AREAS
Selection of suitable saline tolerant varieties, e.g., CSR 36 and CSR 43 for inland salinity & CR Dhan-405 for coastal salinity.
Promotion of green manuring (Dhaincha/ Sunhemp).
Application of Soil ameliorants like, gypsum.
Application of F.Y.M. and vermi compost to improve of soil texture.

8. SUGGESTIONS
Promotion of Stress tolerant varieties under different crop
development programmes, e.g., BGREI, NFSM, RKVY, State Plan, etc.
Preparation of Seed Rolling Plan by each state to address the deficit of stress tolerant varieties.
Promotion of proven crop production technologies like, DSR by zero tillage and seed drill.
Promotion of short duration drought tolerant varieties.
Creation of awareness among the farmers through trainings and distribution of pamphlets about the stress tolerant varieties.
Avoid burning of paddy straw. Incorporation of the same will improve the soil fertility .
Spraying of 2% urea with 1% KNO3 during prolonged dry spells.

9. Thank you for your kind attention