Kharif Focus on Cash Crops

The New Indian Express (Bhubaneswar), May 15, 2015

BHAWANIPATNA:Kalahandi district administration has decided to cultivate kharif crop in 3,83,721 hectares (ha) of land this year. The decision was taken at a meeting chaired by Collector Brunda D on Thursday.

This time, the focus would be on crop diversification from paddy to cash crops, particularly cotton. The area for paddy crop has been brought down to encourage the farmers to go for cash crops.

Deputy Director of Agriculture Laxan Kumar Palatasingh said expecting a normal monsoon, the administration has planned to cover 1,85,005 ha under paddy against 1,90,000 ha last year, 87,258 ha under pulses against 83,341 ha, 50,000 ha under cotton against 44,677 ha. It has also been decided to cover 16,000 ha under oil seeds and provide irrigation to 1,59,423 ha which is 42.35 per cent of the total cultivable area. Out of this, 80,106 ha would be covered under Indravati irrigation project.

Kalahandi is the leading district in the State in seed replacement ratio. The administration has planned to increase it from 64.1 per cent last year to 65 per cent in 2015 kharif season. It has been targeted to supply 72,695 quintals of paddy seeds against 67,062 quintals last year.

Last year, Kalahandi was awarded first prize by the State Government in the field of production enhancement of rice and pulses under National Food Security Mission (NFSM).

The administration has also planned to increase processing and value addition of agriculture products through farmers’ groups, capacity building and ensuring market linkage to farmers, the Deputy Director said.

Asking the officials of agriculture and line departments to work towards achieving the targets, the Collector asked them to ensure that the benefits of various plans and programmes reach the farmers. Stating that there should be timely release of water to canals by different irrigation projects, the Collector said the improvement in farming technology should be taken to the grassroots to improve the socio-economic condition of the farmers.