Kharif paddy sown in 98% of targeted acreage in West Bengal
In West Bengal, sowing time for kharif paddy can be extended up to September.
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REUTERS
Farmers in West Bengal, India’s largest rice-producing State, have so far sown paddy across around 41 lakh hectares (lh), which is around 98 per cent of the targeted paddy acreage for the 2025-26 kharif (summer) season.
The State government expects total paddy production for this crop year (July 2025-June 2026) to exceed last year’s bumper production of 256 lakh tonnes (lt).
“Against the total targeted paddy acreage of 42 lh, our farmers have already sown paddy on around 41 lh . So, they are ahead of time. We are confident of meeting the targeted paddy acreage very soon,” Pradip Mazumdar, Minister of Panchayat and Rural Development, told businessline.
“Some fresh transplanted paddy was damaged this time after around 25,000 hectares of area remained inundated for a long period. But, our government has distributed seedlings from ready seedbeds to the affected farmers so that the area does not suffer and farmers livelihood does not get affected. In order to save time, we had prepared the ready seedbeds,” Mazumdar said.
In West Bengal, sowing time for kharif paddy can be extended up to September. Sowing process normally starts from June-end.
The government has come forward with the scheme for free insurance cover for crops so that farmers are not disheartened by incessant rains or natural calamities damaging their crops. “Apart from the fact that the government was ready with seedlings, it has also ensured that the insurance cover is made available to all the farmers,” the Minister added.
The kharif paddy is harvested during November-December.
West Bengal has two major seasons for paddy cultivation —kharif and rabi. Usually, farmers in the State start sowing boro, primarily an irrigation-based crop during winter, from November. Last year, the State produced 76 lt of paddy during the rabi season.
Published on August 18, 2025
