The Centre has asked the States to increase the sowing of paddy in the wake of reports that there is a decrease in its sowing. At a conference of State Food Ministers on food and nutrition security of India held here on Tuesday, Union Minister of Food and Public Distribution Piyush Goyal said the international demand for both rice and wheat has increased and asked the States to increase the sowing of paddy in this kharif season.
The Centre’s data says that paddy has been sown on 43.45 lakh hectares till July 1, which is 27.05% less than last year’s sowing of 59.56 lakh hectares during the same period of 2021. “We request the States to increase the sowing of rice,” Mr. Goyal said. He added that when wheat sowing begins in October during the rabi season, the States should increase the sowing as wheat’s demand has increased globally.
