Status of Agriculture in Odisha








Introduction
Odisha is an agrarian state with Agriculture and Animal Husbandry sector contributing 21.11% to Net State Domestic Product (NSDP) in 2007-08 (Q) at 1999-2000 prices and providing employment directly or indirectly to 70% of total work force as per 2001 Census. The share of Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) from Agriculture and Animal Husbandry during 2007-08(Q) at constant price (1999-2000) is 19.51%. Evidently, Agriculture plays a critical role in the economy of the state and livelihood of majority of its populace. 

2. Land and Climate
Land use.
The State has cultivated area of 61.80 lakh ha  out of which 29.14 lakh ha. is high land, 17.55 lakh ha medium land and 15.11 lakh ha  low land. The coverage under Paddy during Kharif is about 41.24 lakh & during Rabi 3.31 lakh ha .The land use pattern of the State is indicated below. 
Year 2008-09
 (Area in lakh hectares)

Sl.No.

Items

Area

1.

Forest

58.13

2.

Miscellaneous Trees & Groves

3.42

3.

Permanent Pasture

4.94

4.

Culturable waste

3.75

5.

Land Put to Non-Agriculture

12.98

6.

Barren & un-culturable land

8.40

7.

Current fallow

5.76

8.

Other fallow

2.29

9.

Net Area Sown

56.04

Total Geographical Area

155.71

Gross cropped area

90.71

Cropping Intensity (%)

162


(Area in lakh hectares)

 

Cultivated Area

Kharif Paddy Area

1.

High

29.14

10.43

2.

Medium

17.55

15.99

3.

Low

15.11

14.82

Total:

 

61.80

41.24


Soil and Topography
The State is broadly divided in to 4 Physiographic zones namely, Coastal Plains, Central Tableland, Northern Plateau and Eastern Ghats. These are further subdivided into 10 agroclimatic zones, viz., North-western plateau, North-central Plateau, North-Eastern coastal plain, East and South-Eastern costal plain, North-Eastern Ghat, Eastern Ghat high land, South-Eastern Ghat, Western undulating zone, Western-Central table land and Mid-Central table land. Soil types range from fertile alluvial deltaic soils in coastal plains, mixed red and black soils in Central tableland, red and yellow soils with low fertility in Northern Plateau to red, black & brown forest soils in Eastern Ghat region. They differ widely from highly acidic to slightly alkaline and from light sandy to stiff clays. Soils are mainly acidic with the degree of acidity varying widely. Further, about 4 lakh ha is exposed to saline inundation, 3.54 lakh ha  to flooding and 0.75 lakh ha  to waterlogging, particularly in the deltaic areas.
Climate & Rainfall
States climate is tropical, characterised by high temperature, high humidity, medium to high rainfall and short and mild winters. The normal rainfall of the State is 1451.2 mm. The month wise normal rainfall is indicated below.

Month

Normal Rainfall (mm)

January

11.4

February

22.9

March

25.5

April

33.1

May

63.3

June

216.5

July

339.9

August

356.0

September

231.9

October

114.7

November

 31.5

December

 4.5

State Average

1451.2


The actual rainfall received, vary from district to district. About 84% of rainfall is received during the period from June to September. Even though the quantum of rainfall is quite high, its distribution during the monsoon period is highly uneven and erratic. Flood, drought and cyclone visit regularly with varying intensity. Due to frequent occurrence of these natural calamities there is always reduction in the yield of Kharif rice, the major crop of the State. Similarly, in drought years, there is considerable loss in production of Pulses and Oilseeds both during Kharif and Rabi. The following table indicates the frequency of natural calamities over the years.

Sl.No.

Year

Normal Rainfall mms

Actual rainfall mms

Kharif Rice Production ( in lakh Mts.)

Remarks

1

2

3

4

5

6

1.

1961

1502.5

1262.8

36.99

 

2.

1962

1502.5

1169.9

36.32

 

3.

1963

1502.5

1467.0

42.47

 

4.

1964

1502.5

1414.1

43.59

 

5.

1965

1502.5

997.1

31.89

Severe drought

6.

1966

1502.5

1134.9

35.37

Drought

7.

1967

1502.5

1326.7

34.43

Cyclone & Flood

8.

1968

1502.5

1296.1

38.48

Cyclone & Flood

9.

1969

1502.5

1802.1

38.39

Flood

10

1970

1502.5

1660.2

39.13

Flood

11.

1971

1502.5

1791.5

33.76

Flood, Severe Cyclone

12.

1972

1502.5

1177.1

37.35

Drought, flood

13.

1973

1502.5

1360.1

41.91

Flood

14.

1974

1502.5

951.2

29.67

Flood, severe drought

15.

1975

1502.5

1325.6

42.74

Flood

16.

1976

1502.5

1012.5

29.58

Severe drought

17.

1977

1502.5

1326.9

40.50

Flood

18.

1978

1502.5

1261.3

41.89

Tornados, hail storm

19.

1979

1502.5

950.7

27.34

Severe drought

20.

1980

1502.5

1321.7

40.31

Flood, drought

21.

1981

1502.5

1187.4

36.63

Flood, drought, Tornado

22.

1982

1502.5

1179.9

27.07

High flood, drought, cyclone

23.

1983

1502.5

1374.1

47.63

 

24.

1984

1502.5

1302.8

38.50

Drought

25.

1985

1502.5

1606.8

48.80

Flood

26.

1986

1502.5

1566.1

44.56

 

27.

1987

1502.5

1040.8

31.03

Severe drought

28.

1988

1502.5

1270.5

48.96

 

29.

1989

1502.5

1283.9

58.40

 

30.

1990

1502.5

1865.8

48.42

Flood

31.

1991

1502.5

1465.7

60.30

 

32.

1992

1502.5

1344.1

49.76

Flood, drought

33.

1993

1502.5

1421.6

61.02

 

34.

1994

1502.5

1700.2

58.31

 

35.

1995

1502.5

1588.0

56.48

 

36.

1996

1502.5

990.1

38.27

Severe drought

37.

1997

1502.5

1493.0

57.51

 

38.

1998

1502.5

1277.5

48.85

Severe drought

39.

1999

1502.5

1435.7

42.75

Severe Cyclone

40.

2000

1502.5

1035.1

41.72

Drought & Flood

41.

2001

1482.2

1616.2

65.71

Flood

42.

2002

1482.2

1007.8

28.26

Severe drought

43.

2003

1482.2

1663.5

61.99

Flood

44.

2004

1482.2

1256.7

58.84

Moisture stress

45.

2005

1451.2

1497.7

62.49

Moisture stress

46.

2006

1451.2

1682.8

61.96

Moisture stress/Flood

47.

2007

1451.2

1583.2

68.26

Flood

48.

2008

1451.2

1525.5

60.92

Flood , Moisture Stress

 

3. Population
The population of Orissa has started registering a declining growth rate, as can be seen from the figures given below. 
(Figures in crores)

 

 

CENSUS

 

1971

1981

1991

2001

Population

2.19

2.64

3.17

3.68

Rural

2.01

2.33

2.75

3.13

Urban

0.18

0.31

0.42

0.55

Agril. Workers

0.53

0.64

0.76

0.55

Cultivators

0.34

0.40

0.46

0.34

Agril. Labourers

0.19

0.24

0.30

0.21

% of Rural population

91.6

88.3

86.6

85.0

Decennial population growth rate.

25.1

20.2

20.1

16.25


Poverty Line
The figures relating to the people below the poverty line in Orissa is indicated
below.
% of people below poverty line

Year

 

Orissa

 

India

Rural

Urban

Total

1973-74

67.28

55.62

66.18

54.88

1977-78

72.38

50.92

70.07

51.32

1983-84

67.53

49.15

65.29

44.48

1987-88

57.64

41.53

55.58

38.36

1993-94

49.72

41.64

48.56

35.97

1999-00

48.01

42.83

47.15

26.10

 

4. Land holding
The per capita availability of cultivated land was 0.39 hectares in 1950-51, which has declined to 0.13 hectares in 2007-08. During 2000-01 there were 40.67 lakh operational holdings in the state out of which marginal and small holdings account for
83.8 %, medium 15.9% and large, less than 1%. The average size of holding is only
1.25 ha. The size of operational holdings along with wide spread poverty pose a big problem in agricultural growth of the State. The details are given below. :-

Category of farmers

No of Holdings(Lakh nos.)

Area (lakh ha.)

Percentage to Total

Marginal (< 1.0 ha.)

22.95

11.55

23

Small (1 – 2 ha.)

11.14

15.44

30

Semi-medium (2– 4 ha.)

5.00

13.44

27

Medium (4 – 10 ha.)

1.45

8.17

16

Large (> 10 ha.)

0.13

2.21

4

Total

40.67

50.81

 


In the present agricultural scenario, the marginal farmers, constituting more than 50 % of the farmers, either own or rent a piece of land for cultivation. Because of the endemic poverty, they generally cultivate their crops with little inputs and hence crop production is low. In this backdrop, besides enhancing their capacity, increase in productivity per unit land area and cropping intensity hold the key to agricultural development

5. Irrigation
Out of the cultivated area of 61.80 lakh ha., about 34% is under irrigated conditions and 66% is under un irrigated during Kharif. The source wise irrigation potential created so far up to 2008-09 (Provisional) is indicated below.
   (Area in lakh ha.)

Sl.No.

Sources

Kharif

Rabi

1

Major & Medium

12.86

5.64

2

Minor (Flow)

5.42

0.73

3

Minor (Lift)

4.74

2.70

4

Other Sources

5.65

5.00

 

Total

28.67

14.07


The total irrigation potential created so far from all sources is about 42.74 lakh ha. (Kharif 28.67 lakh ha. & Rabi 14.07 lakh ha.). The gross irrigated cropped area is 31.77 lakh ha., which is about 74 % of the potential created. There is a constant endeavour being put in to enhance the water use efficiency through adoption of proper water management practices.
Year wise and season wise irrigation potential utilized (Lakh ha.)

Year

Kharif

Rabi

Total

1990-91

15.13

8.01

23.14

1991-92

16.14

9.15

25.29

1992-93

15.82

8.94

24.76

1993-94

16.43

8.67

25.10

1994-95

16.27

8.41

24.68

1995-96

16.90

9.39

26.29

1996-97

15.59

7.04

22.63

1997-98

15.99

7.19

23.18

1998-99

16.50

7.08

23.58

1999-00

16.83

8.29

25.12

2000-01

15.90

5.36

21.26

2001-02

17.52

7.94

25.46

2002-03

12.47

4.65

17.12

2003-04

17.37

7.81

25.18

2004-05

18.46

8.45

26.91

2005-06

19.23

10.43

29.66

2006-07

20.02

11.47

31.49

2007-08

20.27

12.81

33.08

2008-09

20.81

10.96

31.77


Besides, private irrigation sources are being developed with funds available under the Agriculture Policy and Jalnidhi scheme. The number of shallow tube wells, bore wells, dug wells and surface lifts installed since 1996-97 till 2008-09  is indicated below.

Items

Nos. installed

Shallow Tube Well

86260

Bore Well

9521

Dug well

2134

Surface lift

905

Total

98820

6. Status of Agri-Input use
(i) Seeds
The use of certified / quality seed alone can raise productivity of the crops by about 15-20%. Hence, due importance has been given in the State Agriculture Policy to increase the Seed Replacement Rate (SRR) and production of certified seeds. Quality seed multiplication is organized through the Agricultural farms of the Department, Orissa State Seeds Corporation & Registered Seed Growers. Under the seed village scheme, registered seed growers are supplied foundation seeds and the seed produced in their fields are certified by the Orissa State Seed Certification Agency. Certified seeds are also produced by the State Seeds Corporation (OSSC). The year wise seed supply position is indicated below.
(Figures in qtls.)

Year

Distribution of Certified/ Quality Seeds 

Paddy

 Non-Paddy

Total

1

2

3

4

1973-74

17968

16060

34028

1974-75

16431

19772

36203

1975-76

49338

15144

64482

1976-77

16466

14212

30678

1977-78

18386

12208

30594

1978-79

26762

11742

38504

1979-80

26536

11987

38523

1980-81

103324

25844

129168

1981-82

48998

27982

76980

1982-83

40500

21743

62243

1983-84

51223

17177

68400

1984-85

34717

38659

73376

1985-86

34333

43297

77630

1986-87

37542

11052

48594

1987-88

65362

23493

88855

1988-89

52119

16258

68377

1989-90

48310

54460

102770

1990-91

44770

55230

100000

1991-92

76920

79290

156210

1992-93

55420

46200

101620

1993-94

49910

18860

68770

1994-95

66446

37604

104050

1995-96

113274

29426

142700

1996-97

120717

71146

191863

1997-98

199976

89210

289186

1998-99

231636

84922

316558

1999-00

230251

92627

322878

2000-01

220135

71814

291949

2001-02

254886

74874

329760

2002-03

138096

61128

199224

2003-04

145085

76881

221966

2004-05

127427

37765

165192

2005-06

160223

71664

231887

2006-07

169464

99889

269353

2007-08

291850

108309

400159

2008-09

360044

116660

476704

Popularisation of High Yielding Varieties of Paddy
Rice is the predominant crop and in order to increase productivity, supply of quality seeds of suitable varieties specific to the agro-climatic situation is inevitable. The scientists of the OUAT and CRRI are constantly in the look out for evolving such promising high yielding and hybrid varieties through breeding programmes. Some popular High Yielding Varieties of Paddy have been developed by OUAT and CRRI for upland, medium land & low land which have been listed below.

Name of the Paddy variety

 

(A) For Up land

Parijat

95

Pathara

95

Khandagiri

95

Ghanteswari

95

Udaygiri

95

Dhala Heera

80-85

Jogesh

90

Sidhanta

95

Satabadi

100

Khandagiri-III

85

Vandana

95

(B) For Medium Lands

Sarathi

120

Lalat

130

Jajati

135

Birupa

135

Bhanja

140

Samanta

140

Meher

140

Konark

125

Surendra

135

Gajapati

130

Kharavela

125

MTU -1001

125-130

MTU-1010

120

RGL-2538

130

Navin

120

Tapaswini

135

Geetanjali

135

 

Name of the Paddy variety

Duration (days)

(C )For Low Land

 

Kanchan

160

Ramachandi

155

Mahanadi

150

Indravati

150

Jagabandhu

150

 CR-1014

160

Pratikhya

145

 BPT-5204

150

Ketakijoha

150

Pooja

150

Sonamani

155

 CR-1017

150

Sarala

160

Durga

160

 RGL-2537

160

 Barshadhan

160

 Upahar

160

 MTU-7029

140

 CR-1009

155

 CR-1018

160


The farmers are being motivated by the agriculture extension machinery to cultivate their land, with above suggested varieties and following recommended package of practices to harvest better yields.
(ii) Fertiliser
The fertilizer consumption in the state has taken great strides from a meager 0.76 kg/ ha during 1961-62 to 62 kg/ ha. during 2008-09. Still the consumption is much below the National average and thus can be raised to a higher level with availability of the materials in required quantities at affordable price. Fertiliser consumption of the state from 1961-62 up to 2008-09 is indicated below. 

Year

Fertiliser consumption in nutrient basis in ‘000 MT

Consumption in Kg./ha

 

N

P

K

Total

 

1961-62

4.38

0.49

-

4.87

0.76

1971-72

37.43

8.38

4.01

49.82

7.25

1981-82

54.16

17.92

9.91

81.99

9.68

1991-92

126.22

41.52

28.29

196.03

19.96

2001-02

221.17

71.95

51.55

344.67

41.00

2002-03

185.41

62.86

42.29

290.56

39.00

2003-04

210.07

66.64

49.50

326.21

39.00

2004-05

223.54

77.99

53.77

355.31

43.00

2005-06

243.21

91.05

60.62

294.88

46.00

2006-07

256.54

92.77

53.57

402.88

47.00

2007-08

273.63

121.48

67.21

462.32

52.10

2008-09

297.77

147.93

89.17

534.87

61.50


(iii) Plant Protection
Adoption of integrated pest management (IPM), emphasizing conservation and augmentation of natural enemies of pest such as parasites, predators and pathogens for control of harmful insects and diseases of crops, is being given due thrust for increasing the crop productivity. IPM is organized by the use of pest resistant varieties, seed treatment, crop sanitation, use of bio-control agents and conservation of beneficial insects & pathogens. The nine Bio-control Laboratories in the State in addition to the one established by Govt. of India are the centers of rearing, multiplication and supply of locally adopted parasites and pathogens to the farmers. IPM demonstration-cum-training for crops like rice, maize, cotton etc are also taken up to popularize the practice of IPM under Central & Centrally Sponsored schemes. Annually around 4500 lakh bio control agents are produced covering 9500 hectares of different crops under biological control. The increased emphasis on IPM methodologies has lead to a stagnant scenario in case of pesticide consumption in the state. The consumption of technical grades of pesticides has almost slowed down a bit with 149 g a.i./ha. during 2008-09.
(Technical Grade in MT)

Year

Total Pesticides consumed

Total

Per hectares consumption (gms of a.i.)

Chemical

Bio-pesticides

2000-01

780.55

225.00

1005.55

157.00

2001-02

757.00

261.00

1018.00

159.00

2002-03

748.00

280.00

1028.00

139.00

2003-04

710.90

317.60

1028.50

138.00

2004-05

669.00

318.00

987.00

148.68

2005-06

720.00

319.00

1039.00

138.53

2006-07

812.00

343.00

1155.00

148.94

2007-08

744.25

345.00

1089.25

143.28

2008-09

810.75

345.00

1155.75

149.00


(iv) Power consumption
The power consumption for Irrigation in Agriculture is in declining trend. Minor irrigation programme cannot be successful without large-scale rural electrification. However, as per the incentives announced under Hon’ble Chief Ministers package and State Agriculture Policy, energy use in Agriculture Sector is expected to rise. The share of power consumption for Agriculture Purpose since 1992-93 is indicated below. 

Year

Share of power consumption for  Agriculture Purpose

 

In million units

In %

1

2

3

1992-93

305.00

5.6

1993-94

341.00

5.6

1994-95

426.00

6.6

1995-96

491.00

6.5

1996-97

150.00

2.8

1997-98

201.00

3.6

1998-99

258.00

4.8




1

2

3

1999-00

217.00

3.9

2000-01

186.00

3.1

2001-02

164.00

2.8

2002-03

139.00

2.1

2003-04

124.00

1.8

2004-05

147.00

1.9

2005-06

137.00

1.7

2006-07

131.00

1.4

2007-08

132.00

1.2

2008-09

155.00

1.3


(v) Farm Mechanization
Farm mechanization has become utterly essential for timely operation of agricultural activities leading to increase in production and productivity besides reducing drudgery of labour associated with farm activities. It also enables efficient utilisation of agricultural inputs and reduces the cost of production. The Government has been encouraging the farmers to adopt improved farm machinery & equipments by providing financial assistance in form of subsidies and credit facility. Besides, the Agriculture Directorate is equipped with a proto-type Development Center (Implement Factory, Bhubaneswar) which designs, and manufactures popular implements for supply to farmers. It also indulges in training, testing and modifying the equipments as per the farmers requirement.
Because, of the awareness generation programme taken up by the Department through demonstration and farmers awareness trainings, mechanization has picked up in the State and there is a great demand for tractor, power tiller, paddy reaper, and other power driven/ self propelled equipments. Similarly, small manually operated/ bullock drawn implements are also being increasingly used by the farmers of hilly and tribal areas. The farm power input touched 0.90 KWH/ hect. by the end of 2008-09 and it has been targeted to increase 1.03 KWH/ha by the end of 11th Plan period.
         Farm Power Input (Unit: KWH/hect.)

2003-04

2004-05

2005-06

2006-07

2007-08

2008-09

11th Plan (Target)

0.67

0.69

0.73

0.77

0.82

0.90

1.03





Number of tractors & power tiller popularised since 1992-93 to 2008-09 is indicated below.

Year

Nos supplied

Tractor

Power tillers

1992-93

76

 

1993-94

152

 

1994-95

273

 

1995-96

103

76

1996-97

512

345

1997-98

774

393

1998-99

303

748

1999-00

143

783

2000-01

168

775

2001-02

102

822

2002-03

251

1242

2003-04

585

1734

2004-05

788

2125

2005-06

800

1631

2006-07

1247

2974

2007-08

705

3364

2008-09

1500

5280


(vi) Farm Credit
Since modern agriculture is capital intensive, farmer’s access to farm credit is crucial in enhancing crop productivity, especially in Orissa’s context. The field functionaries of Agriculture Directorate coordinate with the financial institutions in collecting loan applications from the farmers for providing credit to them. The crop loan disbursed to farmers is in increasing trend and needs to be greatly increased. The year wise position of crop loan disbursed is indicated below. 
(In crore Rupees)

Year

Crop loan disbursed

1995-96

252.00

1996-97

275.00

1997-98

326.00

1998-99

463.00

1999-00

595.00

2000-01

611.00

2001-02

754.00

2002-03

869.00

2003-04

1107.00

2004-05

1481.00

2005-06

2111.00

2006-07

2494.00

2007-08

2665.00

2008-09

2614.00

7. Crop Insurance
Rashtriya Krishi Bima Yajana (RKBY) was introduced in the state from Rabi 1999-2000. Both Loanee & Non-loanee farmers have been covered under this scheme. It is compulsory for loanee farmers and optional for non-loanee farmers.
The crops covered under this scheme are Paddy, Maize, Groundnut, Jute, Niger, Arhar, Cotton during Kharif season & Paddy, Groundnut, Mustard, Potato, during Rabi season.
The year wise achievements made under crop insurance is given below.

Year

Farmers covered     (in lakhs)

Farmers paid compensation (lakh nos)

Sum insured Rs.in crores

Premium collected      Rs in crores

Compen-sation paid Rs in crores

99-00 (Rabi)

2.32

0.17

131

2.28

0.002

2000-01

 

 

 

 

 

Kharif

6.82

3.41

482

11.23

105.47

Rabi

1.24

0.26

91

1.86

1.50

2001-02

 

 

 

 

 

Kharif

6.28

0.09

400

10.22

2.34

Rabi

2.13

0.18

166

3.32

1.08

2002-03

 

 

 

 

 

Kharif

12.05

8.39

1066

31.69

244.03

Rabi

1.43

0.17

130

2.54

1.17

2003-04

 

 

 

 

 

Kharif

6.38

0.38

540

13.82

18.18

Rabi

2.03

0.01

190

3.37

0.10

2004-05

 

 

 

 

 

Kharif

8.73

0.46

898

25.49

14.69

Rabi

2.11

0.07

230

4.99

0.36

2005-06 (Kharif) Rabi

9.00 2.30

0.19 0.07

963 276

24 6

3.74 2.21

2006-07

 

 

 

 

 

Kharif

6.80

0.68

1071

27.50

27.48

Rabi

2.00

0.13

269

5.26

0.46

2007-08

 

 

 

 

 

Kharif

8.41

0.66

1118

28.24

24.02

Rabi

1.32

NA

200

3.81

NA

2008-09

 

 

 

 

 

Kharif

6.11

0.56

841

21.77

30.35

Rabi

1.62

0.44

252

4.98

8.37


During Kharif 2008, Pilot Weather Based Crop Insurance Scheme (WBCIS) was implemented in 8 blocks of 3 districts of the State namely Nuapada, Bolangir and Baragarh for Non-Loanee farmers on optional basis for paddy crop. Similarly during Kharif 2009 WBCIS is being implemented in 19 blocks of the above 3 districts.

8. The Developmental Approach
Agriculture is the main stay of State’s economy & providing livelihood support to a large section of population. Thus, development in agriculture holds the key to socioeconomic development of the state. With a view to attain self sufficiency in food grain production through various Government sponsored developmental programmes; fields of infrastructure, technology intervention and capacity building etc.  The Directorate of Agriculture in Orissa was established in 1945 and is constantly at its job since then. The major goals of the agriculture sector have been food safety, food security, food quality, increase in production & productivity, conservation of environment and economic stability.  
Orissa has been the pioneer state in formulating a historical Agriculture Policy in the year 1996 conferring the status of Industry to the Agriculture. In the realm of changing global scenario, especially in the post-WTO regime, it was increasingly felt for bringing in an quantum change in the agriculture policy. The State Government have brought into force the State New Agriculture Policy in 2008 for the development of Agriculture Sector. The main objectives of the policy are -
¾   To bring in a shift from the present level of subsistence agriculture to a profitable commercial agriculture so that people would accept agriculture as a vocation;
¾   To promote sustainable agricultural development; 
¾   To enhance productivity of important crops at least to match with national average (enhancing seed replacement, availability of quality planting materials, INM, IPM, water management, farm mechanization and technology transfer) ;
¾   To encourage crop diversification particularly in uplands and medium lands (e.g. paddy to non-paddy crops);
¾   To focus on horticultural crops including dry-land horticulture;
¾   To encourage modern farming system approach;
¾To enhance water use efficiency through peoples’ participation; ¾To facilitate increased long term investment in agricultural sectors (on farm as well as off farm) both by private sector, public sector and private & public partnership (PPP), particularly for post harvest management, marketing, agro processing and value addition, etc; ¾To encourage contract as well as compact farming;
¾   To increase access to credit for small and marginal farmers;
¾   To facilitate appropriate market linkages for agricultural produces with respect to which the state has competitive advantages;
¾   To implement integrated watershed development programmes in watershed areas for Natural Resource Management (NRM), increased crop production as well as on-farm and non-farm income;
¾   To create appropriate institutions / facilities to undertake regulatory, enforcement and quality assurance activities matching to the emergent needs.
¾   To redefine the roles and responsibilities of the agricultural extension machinery by suitably restructuring the field extension set up.
Implementation of different Schemes
The Department of Agriculture is always in search of new interventions/ innovations, such as; introduction of new varieties of HYV / Hybrid seeds, increase in seed replacement ratio, fertilizer consumption, Integrated Nurient Management, Integrated Pest Management, Farm Mechanisation, Water management, post harvest management of agri-produce etc for maximization of production and productivity of different crops there by enhance farm income through implementation of different schemes Under State Plan, Central Plan and Centrally Sponsored Plan. Some of them are listed below –
A. State Plan Schemes

  1. (1)       RIDF-Jalanidhi
  2. (2)       Strengthening / Infrastructure Development for Trg. Res.Centres, Labs, Impl. Factory etc. 
  3. (3)       Management of Acid Soils
  4. (4)       Input Subsidy
  5. (5)       Popularisation of Agriculture Implements
  6. (6)       Refresher Training for Extn. Functionaries
  7. (7)       New Agriculture Policy
  8. (8)       Promotion of System of Rice Intensification.
  9. B. Centrally Sponsored Plan Schemes 
    1. (1)       Work Plan (Macro management Mode)
    2. -           Rice Development
    3. -           Ragi Development
    4. -           Sugarcane Development
    5. -           Farm Mechanisation
  10. (2)       Intensive Cotton Development Programme (ICDP).
  11. (3)       Jute Technology Mission Mini Misson -II
  12. (4)       ISOPOM (Integrated schemes of Oilseed, Pulse, Maize & Oil Palm)
  13. (5)       Support to State Extension for Extension Reforms (ATMA).
  14. (6)       National Project on Management of Soil Health & Fertility (NPMSHF).
    1. (7)       National Food Security Mission (NFSM)
    2. - NFSM (Rice)
    3. -NFSM (Pulses)
  15. (8)       Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana.
  16. C. Central Plan Schemes
  17. (1)       Promotion & Strengthening of Agriculture mechanization through training, testing and demonstration.
  18. (2)       Support to State extension programme for extension reforms – AGRISNET.
  19. (3)       National project on promotion of organic farming
  20. (4)       Development & strengthening of Infrastructure for Production and Distribution of Quality Seeds.
  21. (5)        Agril.-clinic/ Agril. business centres.
  22. (6)       Strengthening & Modernisation  of Pest Management .

These schemes are implemented through the departmental field functionaries posted at grass root level and at the higher level in coordination with the Panchayati Raj Institutions.

9.Crop coverage & crop production
(a)        Food grains
Food grains consist of cereals and pulses. Rice, maize, ragi, wheat, jowar, bajra & small millets crops grown in the State come under cereals and arhar, mung, biri, kulthi, cowpea, fieldpea, gram, lentil crops under Pulses. The crops of wheat, bajra, jowar, small millets are grown to lesser extent. Mung, biri and kulthi crops are mostly grown during Rabi season in the rice fallows with residual moisture. If there is a good rainfall during last part of October, the coverage under pulse crops & production are higher. The area, production & yield rate of food grains since 1950-51 till date is indicated below.

Year

Area ( in lakh ha.)

Production (in lakh MT)

Productivity (kgs./ ha.)

 

Cereals

Pulses

Total

Cereals

Pulses

Total

Cereals

Pulses

Total

1950-51

40

4

44

21

2

24

510

520

546

1960-61

40

5

45

38

2

40

943

443

906

1970-71

49

8

57

44

5

49

898

552

847

1980-81

52

17

69

51

9

60

982

514

865

1990-91

50

21

71

59

11

70

1181

551

992

1998-99

49

16

65

58

6

64

1180

391

989

1999-00

51

16

67

56

7

63

1108

403

937

2000-01

49

14

63

50

5

55

1032

365

884

2001-02

49

17

66

75

7

82

1526

400

1232

2002-03

47

13

60

36

4

40

767

349

675

2003-04

49

16

65

71

6

77

1444

379

1178

2004-05

49

17

66

70

6

76

1414

378

1154

2005-06

49

19

68

74

8

82

1513

422

1211

2006-07

49

19

68

74

9

83

1520

444

1213

2007-08

49

20

69

83

9

92

1702

458

1344

2008-09

49

20

69

76

10

86

1556

497

1249


In the year when there are no natural calamities the food grain production is increased. However the food grain production scenario in the backdrop of projected demand have been as under.
Year wise Surplus/Deficit of Foodgrain Production & Consumption:

Year

Projected population (in lakhs)

Adult population 88% (in lakhs)

Total Requirement  (in MTs.)

Total Production (in MTs.)

Surplus / Deficit  (in MTs.)

1998-99

350.85

308.75

73.54

63.78

- 9.76

1999-00

357.91

314.96

75.02

62.65

- 12.37

2000-01

365.10

321.28

76.53

55.35

- 21.18

2001-02

371.03

326.51

77.77

82.33

4.56

2002-03

377.06

331.81

79.04

40.44

- 38.60

2003-04

383.19

337.21

80.32

77.37

- 2.95

2004-05

389.41

342.68

81.62

75.89

- 5.73

2005-06

395.74

348.25

82.95

82.21

- 0.74

2006-07

402.16

353.90

84.29

82.98

- 1.31

2007-08

408.70

359.66

85.67

92.54

6.87

2008-09

415.34

365.50

87.05

86.34

- 0.71



Rice
Rice is the principal food crop in the state occupying about 44.55 lakh ha annually (41.24 lakh ha. during Kharif season 3.31 lakh ha. during Rabi season). The Kharif Paddy area consists of 10.43 lakh ha  of high land 15.99 lakh ha of medium land and 14.82 lakh ha of low land. The entire Rabi area is irrigated & covered by HY Paddy where as 36% of Kharif Paddy area is covered under irrigation. The rice production reached the record level of 76.55 lakh tones during 2007-08 and at present is 69.16 lakh tones (during 2008). The yield rate of rice is 1.6 tonnes/ ha as against national average of 2.2 tonnes / ha . The year wise position is indicated below. 

Year

Area ( in lakh ha.)

Production (in lakh MTs)

Productivity (kgs./ ha.)

 

Kharif

Rabi

Total

Kharif

Rabi

Total

Kharif

Rabi

Total


1950-51

38.5

0.1

38.6

20.0

0.1

20.1

520

600

520


1960-61

37.7

0.3

38.0

37.2

0.2

37.4

988

697

986


1970-71

43.3

1.4

44.7

39.1

1.9

41.0

902

1387

917


1980-81

40.2

1.7

41.9

40.3

2.7

43.0

1003

1571

1026


1990-91

41.9

2.1

44.0

48.4

4.3

52.7

1156

2019

1198


1998-99

41.8

2.7

44.5

48.9

5.0

53.9

1169

1889

1212


1999-00

42.2

3.8

46.0

42.8

9.1

51.9

1013

2389

1127


2000-01

42.3

2.0

44.3

41.7

4.4

46.1

987

2136

1041


2001-02

42.3

2.7

45.0

65.7

5.8

71.5

1554

2127

1589


2002-03

40.9

1.8

42.7

28.2

4.2

32.4

690

2352

759


2003-04

42.5

2.5

45.0

62.0

5.3

67.3

1459

2112

1496


2004-05

42.0

2.9

44.9

58.8

6.5

65.3

1401

2230

1455


2005-06

41.54

3.25

44.79

62.49

7.14

69.63

1504

2193

1554


2006-07

41.36

3.14

44.50

61.96

7.32

69.28

1498

2328

1557


2007-08

41.18

3.34

44.52

68.26

8.29

76.55

1658

2484

1720


2008-09

41.24

3.31

44.55

60.92

8.24

69.16

1477

2488

1553



The scope for increasing Rabi rice area is very limited as it depends upon irrigation. The problems faced in increasing Kharif rice productivity and the steps taken to overcome them are as follows.
i)          More & more Kharif rice area is being brought under irrigation.
ii)Kharif rice is grown in all types of land, even on sub-marginal lands, with the hope of getting some yield if the rainfall is normal. Due to weak economic condition, Programme “Work Plan - Rice Development” is in operation in the State since 2001-02. Under this scheme Farmers Field School, exposure visit of farmers (out side and inside state), supply of certified seeds, farm implements, power tillers, tractors at a subsidized rates etc. are being taken up. Besides, from 2007-08 such developmental activities for enhancement of rice production and productivity is being taken up under the National Food Security Mission - Rice in 15 low productivity districts in a mission mode.


especially the tribal farmers in hilly areas, they cultivate rice with least/ no agri-inputs and obtain low yield as a result, particularly from high lands. In these areas, growing short duration paddy varieties of 70-90 days and mixed cropping are being advocated as an insurance against crop failure. Steps are being taken to divert 2 lakh ha. of paddy land especially high land paddy area to more remunerative crops like cereals, pulses, oilseeds, vegetables, spices, fruit trees, fibres, flowers etc.

iii)

A good number of High Yielding varieties have come up for high & medium land, choice for low, water logged and saline inunadated lands is limited. Late varieties like Panidhan, Tulasi, Kanchan, Rambha, Lunisree have been developed by CRRI & OUAT for these lands.

iv)

Pest built-up due to continuous cloudy weather in Kharif season & loss of nutrients due to leaching have become serious risks, the poor farmer of the state can hardly afford. Besides their resource pureness is one of the reasons for low fertilizer consumption.

v)

The operational units are small & fragmented. Small, marginal & tribal farmers are economically too weak to adopt new technology. Since the situation is changing, a large number of farmers are being brought into the fold of institutional finance. 

 

To increase production and productivity of Rice a Centrally Sponsored


Other cereals
Maize & Ragi are the important coarse cereals. Jowar, Bajra & Small millets are also grown in the state to a lesser extent. These crops are mostly grown in tribal districts during Kharif in un-irrigated uplands with poor management practices and more as subsistence crop. The Area, Production & Yield rate of Ragi & Maize during last few years are given below.
A= Area in lakh hects    P= Production in lakh MTs  Y= Yield rate in Kgs/hect

Year

 

Ragi

 

Maize

A

P

Y

A

P

Y

1950-51

1.21

0.28

235

0.23

0.09

390

1960-61

0.67

0.29

431

0.22

0.09

417

1970-71

1.56

1.41

901

0.72

0.59

821

1980-81

3.36

2.65

786

1.81

1.75

964

1990-91

2.48

2.54

1023

1.67

2.07

1238

1998-99

1.98

1.44

725

1.64

1.83

1117

1999-00

2.09

1.54

735

1.74

2.17

1248

2000-01

1.89

1.52

801

1.76

2.17

1235

2001-02

1.96

1.45

738

1.64

1.85

1128

2002-03

1.87

1.27

783

1.58

1.77

1123

2003-04

1.90

1.40

737

1.75

1.96

1116

2004-05

1.94

1.42

731

1.85

2.44

1322

2005-06

1.90

1.42

747

1.87

2.80

1496

2006-07

1.90

1.44

760

1.99

3.19

1602

2007-08

1.87

1.65

883

2.15

4.82

2245

2008-09

1.83

1.64

896

2.24

5.14

2291


The area under Ragi crop is showing a declining trend due to diversion of traditionally ragi growing areas to cotton, maize vegetables & pulses. So, improved & high yielding varieties of Ragi have been introduced in the state and Ragi development is being promoted though incorporating the scheme under work plan for enhancing the production & productivity.
Similarly in Maize crop, to increase the production and productivity a centrally sponsored scheme known as ISOPOM (Maize) is in operation in the state since 2004
05. Under the scheme interventions like minikit demonstration, IPM demonstration, block demonstration farmers training etc are being taken up besides supply of certified seeds, PP equipments, HDPE pipes and farm implements at subsidized rates.
Pulses
Arhar, mung, biri, kulthi, gram, fieldpea, cowpea, lentil are the pulse crops grown in the State. The major crops are arhar, mung, biri and kulthi. Pulses are grown mainly in uplands during Kharif season predominantly in inland districts & in rice fallows during Rabi season, mostly in coastal districts under available moisture condition. Mung & biri are also grown as third crop in summer under irrigated condition. Post monsoon rains, mostly govern the Rabi coverage of pulses in rice fallows. The area, production & productivity of pulses crops of last few years is indicated below.

Year

Area ( in lakh ha.)

Production (in lakh MT)

Productivity (kgs./ ha.)

Kharif

Rabi

Total

Kharif

Rabi

Total

Kharif

Rabi

Total

1970-71

1.7

6.7

8.4

1.0

3.6

4.6

600

542

552

1980-81

3.2

14.1

17.3