Chhattisgarh's foodgrain output to increase by 16%

State set to receive normal rainfall; Paddy output pegged at 7.6 mn tonnes out of total production of 8.68 mn tonnes

Chhattisgarh’s foodgrain production is estimated to increase by 16 per cent in the kharif 2016 as the state was set to receive normal rainfall in the season.

The state government had set a target to produce 8.68 million tonnes of foodgrain. In the last kharif season, the target of 8.63 million tonnes foodgrain production could not be achieved as the state received 13 per cent less rainfall. The foodgrain production figure was able reach 7.47 million tonnes then.

“Since there is less scope for horizontal expansion, thrust will be on crop diversification and increasing productivity,” R K Chandravanshi, senior official in agriculture directorate, told Business Standard. Emphasis will be on increasing area under maize, pulses and oilseeds, he added.

Of the estimated output of 8.68 million tonnes this year, 7.6 million tonnes would be paddy, which has been a major crop of the state. Chhattisgarh is among top ten paddy producing states in the country. The paddy production would be 16 per cent higher than last year’s production. A target had been set to take paddy crop in 3.6 million tonnes area that would be three per cent less that the area in which paddy was sown in kharif 2015.

The state government had designed strategy for the enhancement of crop production. “The focus would be crop diversification and replacement of uneconomical upland rice with suitable pulses and oilseeds,” Chandravanshi said, adding that varietal change has been proposed in the rice crop.

The early and mid duration suitable hybrid varieties will be promoted instead of late varieties to promote double cropping. A survey team will be constituted for monitoring pest and disease incidence.