Assam Times: Mahanta says Assam rice production declines

Mahanta says Assam rice production declines
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Editor on 29 March, 2008 08:57:00
 
Former Assam Chief Minister Prafula Kumar Mahanta is unhappy with the state's
rice production which he says is taking a downward trend.
Addressing a press conference on Friday, the former Chief Minister said the
state government has been failing to properly utilise the fund meant for the
agriculture sector which will have an adverse impact on the state's rural
economic scenario.
If it so happens, said Mahanta, the state will no longer be able to feed the
growing population. He is worried that the state attained self sufficiency in
food grain production  a few years back but now once again taking a backseat.
He cited the official documents to justify that Assam's rice production figure
was 39.98 lakh metric tonne in 2000-2001 while he was in power but the same has
fallen to 29.16 lakh metric tonne.