Stress on cash crops this season

The Statesman, 29th April, 2008

Diversification of crop to different types of cash crops will be the target for coming year’s kharif season in Kalahandi district. In the kharif strategy meeting held recently, it was decided to cover 3,83,000 hectares with different types of crops with thrust on cotton, maize and tuber crops. As against cotton covered in 17,798 hectares during last kharif season, it is now targeted to cover cotton in 23,000 hectares in the coming kharif season. Similarly looking at the soil condition and success of last year, it is programmed to cover 16,500 hectares under maize cultivation in the coming Kharif season. Similarly it is programmed to give thrust on varieties of tuber crops like sweet potato, yam, etc. in tribal-dominated and hilly areas of Thuamul-Rampur, Lanjigarh and Madanpur Rampur through horticulture and watershed mission activities.While drawing up the strategy, it was decided to reduce paddy areas. As against 1,57,000 hectares paddy area during last Kharif season, it is now targeted for only in 1,15,000 hectares. The aim is to diversify crops and to introduce cash crops. To meet the Kharif, target, provision of agriculture loans to the tune of about Rs 151 crore as against Rs 84.5 crore distributed during last season has been finalised. It was informed that the notable achievement of the last season was higher seed replacement ratio which was almost 19.5 per cent, the highest in the state, while the state average is about 12 per cent. Similarly in the field of introduction of field mechanisation, the district are far ahead with supply of 243 power-tillers to the farmers under subsidy sale materialised through Krushi Sahayak Kendras.