Telangana Today – Online

With a steep fall in paddy acreage across the country and an estimated reduction in production, Telangana is likely to retain its title as the ‘Rice Bowl of India’ with an unprecedented production of about 1.7 crore tonnes during the ensuing Vaanakalam. Paddy cultivation has been taken up in about 64 lakh acres, an increase by nearly 14 lakh acres over last Vaanakalam. The overall crop sowing area in the State was more than 1.34 crore acres, with a whopping 10 lakh acres growth during the corresponding period. Farmers took up sowing operations in Telangana soon after the monsoon became active across the State. The kharif season contributes to about 80 per cent of India’s ...

The Economic Times – Online

The rice prices are likely to remain elevated for some more time owing to a shortfall in rice production which can be linked to a fall in paddy sowing area. The price rise factor has added to the pre-existing inflationary pressures that the slowing economy is already grappling with. Recently, the retail inflation surged to 7 per cent due to increased food prices, including that of cereals. The increase has led to retail inflation reversing a three-month declining trend in August. Similarly, the wholesale price inflation, which declined to 11-month low, also showed price pressures from cereals resulting from wheat output being impacted by severe heat waves in some parts of the country.