 "Odisha targets 10 million tonnes food grain output in Kharif 2016")
The Odisha government has set food grain production target of 10.1 million tonnes (mt) in Kharif 2016 after the standing crops were battered last year. This year's target includes 9.55 mt of cereals and 0.63 mt of pulses.
According to government data, cereals will be cultivated on about 4.01 million hectares (ha) of land, with a productivity ratio of 2,332 kg per ha. This includes rice cultivation on 3.6 million ha, with yield rate of 2,370 kg per ha, maize on 0.3 million ha, with productivity quotient of 2,850 kg per ha, and ragi on 0.16 million ha, with yield rate of 900 kg per ha.
Similarly, it is targeted to cultivate pulses on 1.02 million ha, with productivity ratio of 616 kg per ha.
The kharif sowing area includes 0.4 million ha of oilseeds, 0.17 million ha of fibres per bales, 0.368 million ha of vegetables and 0.10 million ha of spices.
“With the prediction of normal onset of monsoon, the government may have arrived at the production target. The forecast for monsoon this year is at 106% of the Long Period Average with an error of plus/minus 5%,” said Anupama Baliarsingh, associate professor of agro-meteorology at the Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology.
The state government has set an ambitious target to disburse Rs 6,000 crore of co-operative loans to the farmers during Kharif 2016, which has already commenced from April 1 this year.
Five crops, namely paddy, ground nut, cotton, turmeric and ginger, have already been notified for coverage under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana for crop insurance for Kharif 2016. All farmers availing seasonal agricultural operations loans from financial institutions (loanee farmers) for the notified crops would be covered compulsorily under the scheme.
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However, the scheme would be optional for the non-loanee farmers.
It may noted, that 27 out of 30 districts in the state were affected severely by the drought last year destroying about 1.3 milllion ha of crop area.