The Orissa government targets to produce 91.42 lakh tonne of foodgrains during 2009 Kharif season. This includes 87.52 lakh tonne of cereals and 3.9 lakh tonne of pulses.
The foodgrain production in the state in 2008-09 is pegged at around 87 lakh tonne which includes the harvest in kharif and the rabi (advance estimates).
Similarly, the total agricultural production consisting of cereals, pulses, oil seeds, fibers and spices is projected to be 136.26 lakh tonne.
A total of 58.48 lakh hectares will be brought under cultivation of different crops during the 2009 Kharif season.
While 48.79 lakh hectares will be brought under food grain production, 4.74 lakh hectares are earmarked for oilseeds. Vegetables will be cultivated in another 3 lakh hectares.
The projections were made in the booklet on the Kharif campaign 2009, released by the chief secretary Ajit Kumar Tripathy in the state secretariat on Thursday.
Briefing the media on the occasion, Arabinda Padhi, director, agriculture and food production said, the seed replacement rate (SRR) in the state has increased from 7 percent in 2006-07 to 18 percent in 2008-09.The government intends to increase this to 25 percent. Similarly, the consumption of fertiliser increased from 47 kg per hectare in 2006-07 to 62 kg per hectare in 2008-09.
