 "Odisha's food grain output may plunge 40%")
The overall production of food grains (both in Kharif and Rabi seasons) in Odisha, is likely to drop by 40% compared to 2014-15 after the standing crops were ruined due to erratic and scanty rains in the Kharif season of 2015.
During the year, the total production is estimated at 7.11 million tonnes (mt), according to government projections, against the actual production of 11.823 mt recorded in 2014-15, a plunge of 39.86%. This year's yield will be 1,108 kg per hectare.
The total output of cereals is pegged at 6.096 mt compared to 10.76 mt harvested a year earlier. Similarly, pulses production is expected to be 1.015 mt.
According to the estimate, the production of rice, a key Kharif crop, will remain at 5.23 mt, while output of wheat, jowar, bajra, maize will be 0.019 mt , 0.004 mt, 0.0013 mt and 0.696 mt, respectively. Similarly, arhar output is estimated at 0.117 mt, while biri and mung are likely to be 0.261mt and 0.394 mt, respectively.
Seasonally, the food grain output is expected to be about 5.7 mt according to the second advance estimates prepared by the Odisha government during the Kharif season, while it is estimated at 1.423 mt output during Rabi season, including 0.791 mt of cereals and 0.632 mt of pulses.
Total oilseed production is pegged at 0.7 mt and fibre output will be 0.37 million bales (one bale equal to 170 to 180 kg) during Rabi and Kharif season.
Also Read
With drought affecting 28 of the 30 districts in Odisha during Kharif 2015, the state government has already estimated that food grain production in the state is likely to drop by more than 43% against the target fixed for 2015-16 during the season. The target for the current fiscal for Kharif season is 10.1 million tonne (mt).
As many as 15,35,902 hectares of crop area in 29,176 villages of 28 districts and 412 wards under 55 urban local bodies have suffered damage to the extent of 33% and above due to the scanty rainfall.
Odisha has won the Krishi Karman Award for 2014-15, for the fourth time in the last five years, for being the best performing state in overall food grains production among category-II states in India.