Foodgrain production in MP down 10%

Foodgrain production in Madhya Pradesh has gone down by about 10 per cent, leading to a fall in the contribution of agriculture to the state economy in the last eight years.

The growth rate of agriculture during 2003-04 and 2007-08 stood at -3.77 per cent owing to scanty rains. The acreage and production of some of the major crops has also gone down since last year.

The state economic survey 2008-09 has revealed that a decline of 2.14 per cent was expected during 2007-08 as only 31.28 per cent of the farm area is irrigated.

The industrial sector has contributed positively at 3.75 per cent (quick estimate) to the state gross domestic production (GDP), which stood at 4.18 per cent at constant price (base year 1999-2000).

The per capita income has gone up to Rs 13,299 during 2007-08 from Rs 12,384 in 1999-2000.

But per capital income in the rural areas, which account for 78 per cent of the state’s population, stood at Rs 8,879, or 28.30 per cent, less than that of urban areas.

The production of foodgrain, particularly wheat, has gone down each year since 2003. Wheat yield went down by 14.25 per cent in the last one year from 7,847.82 metric tonnes to 6,729.36 metric tonnes.

Similarly, growth rate in all major foodgrain such as paddy, rice, and maize has posted a decline of 2.92 per cent, -13.09 per cent and -1.1 per cent, respectively, during 2003-04 and 2007-08, the survey says.

The acreage of these three major crops has also gone down by minus 2.32 per cent, minus 4.22 per cent and minus 4.05 per cent, respectively, during the last one year.

Pulse production has also shown a decline in two major crops namely arhar and gram; which has gone down by -9.51 per cent and -24.80 per cent, respectively.

Cash crops like sugarcane and cotton have also recorded a fall rate during 2003-04 to 2007-08. The growth rate of sugarcane yield and cotton has been at -3.22 per cent and -1.85 per cent, respectively, owing to poor rains and low availability of fertilisers.

However, oilseed crops like soyabean has shown growth of 14.25 per cent from 4.78 million tonnes in 2006-07 and 5.47 million tonnes during 2006-08.

The survey also pointed out that as many as 27 large scale industries were set up during 2008-09 that had generated 4,500 jobs with an investment of Rs 1,866 crore. This apart, 20,918 micro and small-scale industries took shape during the same fiscal with an investment of Rs 361.13 crore and generated 46,854 jobs.