Paddy production recovers

The paddy sub sector has registered a 35.5 percent growth during the first half of 2012 compared to a 20.8 percent decline during the same period in 2011, reflecting a revival from the damage to paddy production in 2011 due to unexpected severe floods.

According to the Fiscal Management Report 2013 issued by the Finance and Planning Ministry recovery of paddy production was helped by the prompt action on the part of the Government to rebuild the required infrastructure, favourable weather for paddy production and continuation of the fertilizer subsidy.

Recording the highest ever paddy production and paddy harvested in a Maha season since 1952, paddy production in the 2011/2012 Maha season amounted to 130.5 million bushels and paddy harvested in the 2011/2012 Maha season was recorded as 1,704,100 acres which is a 12.4 percent increase compared to the 2010/2011 Maha season.

The report stated that paddy production in the Northern Province also recorded a remarkable growth of 91 percent and 86.7 percent contributing 11.2 percent and 10.8 percent share of the total paddy production during the first and second quarters in 2012 compared to the same period in 2011.

- UK