Compared to last year, rice production increased by 231,242 tons this year. According to the data of the Ministry of Agriculture, 57 lakh 24 thousand 234 tons of rice were produced last year. In the current financial year, 59 lakh 55 thousand 476 tons have been produced. The ministry claims that productivity has also increased along with rice production. Last year paddy productivity was 3.98 tonnes per hectare. This year it has increased to 4.19 tonnes.

In 2079/80, 54 lakh 86 thousand 472 tons of rice was grown. Coming to 2079/80, compared to the average production of four years, there was an increase of 5.08 percent. Production has been increasing since 2079/80. 

When the production continues to increase like this, the import of paddy-rice should decrease. But the data of the customs department shows that the import of paddy and rice is abnormal. In the first 6 months of the current financial year, 19.9 billion worth of paddy-rice has been imported. While last year, during the same period, the import was 10.14 billion. Not only rice crops, but also vegetables (potatoes, onions, garlic), maize, and other agricultural crops have also increased in import. 

In the six months of last year, 70 billion 13 crores of major agricultural commodities were imported, while 1 trillion 6 billion 35 crores have been imported in the 6 months of the current financial year. Exports are only 41 billion in 6 months. Exports were worth 18 billion 29 crores in 6 months of last year. Edible oil (crude) imported from third countries is processed and exported. Therefore, exports have increased. But the import-export gap is very large. This also shows that the country is dependent on the main crop. 

Although rice production has increased by 2 lakh tons, the annual demand of 5 to 8 lakh tons is still insufficient, said Mahanand Joshi, information officer of the ministry. Import duty has decreased recently. The price of paddy has also decreased, so imports have increased," said Joshi. "Maize is imported for grain. The import of garlic is also unnatural and questionable. In the 6 months of the current financial year, the department has imported vegetables (potatoes, onions, garlic) worth 14.74 billion. Last year, only 8 billion 51 crores were imported in 6 months.

The highest amount of garlic worth 6.64 billion has been imported in 6 months. 1 billion worth of garlic was imported during the same period last year. Garlic imported from China is suspected to be smuggled to India. Experts say that domestic production does not meet the demand for garlic. Imports are necessary to meet the demand. But the spokesperson of the ministry, Matina Joshi Vaidya, said that there has been too much import in 6 months.

'There is a suspicion that garlic has gone to India, theft and extraction are increasing,' Vaidya said, 'Paddy production is increasing. However, imports have also increased. Imports have increased as more people eat fine rice. Rice is also imported to make alcohol. According to the data of the department, potatoes worth 5.23 billion and onions worth 1.83 billion were imported in 6 months. Potatoes worth 4 billion 59 crores and onions worth 1 billion 97 crores were imported in 6 months of last year. 

In the 6 months of the current fiscal year, 7.6 billion worth of corn has been imported. In the same period last year, it was 6 billion 63 crores in 6 months. 8 billion 12 billion pulses (including lentils), 8 billion 10 billion fruits, 2 billion 60 billion dry fruits, 70 billion dairy products, 56 billion millet products have been imported. 

Soybean, sunflower, palm oil (crude) imports have also increased abnormally. Soybean oil (raw material) worth 24 billion 37 crores, sunflower crude oil 13 billion 56 crores, palm oil (raw material) worth 6 billion 28 crores were imported in 6 months. Traders refine these raw materials of edible oil imported from third countries and export them to India. 

In 6 months of this year, 41.8 billion worth of agricultural goods have been exported. During the same period last year, the export was 18 billion 29 million. Edible oil is the most exported. Soybeans worth 18.91 billion, sunflower worth 4.98 billion and palm oil worth 1.13 billion have been exported in 6 months. According to the data of the department, cardamom worth 4.56 billion, tea worth 3.16 billion, Churpi worth 1.80 billion, Pina worth 1.78 billion, and fruit juice worth 3.45 billion have been exported. The department also said that ginger worth 30 million, lentils worth 16 million, vegetables worth 14 million, cinnamon worth 7 million and dairy products worth 5 million were exported.