Efforts on to scale up food production in Mysore

Steps have been initiated to up food production in Mysore district. It is planned to scale up production by 10 per cent.

Of the 676,382 hectares of geographical area, the district has 62,851 hectares under forest cover. An area of 377,684 hectares are cultivable area, of which 238,433 hectares are cultivated more than once a year. While 218,541 hectares Are rain-fed, irrigation benefits 159,143 hectares, according to joint director of agriculture Vishakanta.

The main crops cultivated in the district are paddy, ragi, hybrid maize, sugarcane, cotton and tobacco. T Narasipur taluk leads in paddy cultivation in the district. In ragi and hybrid maize, Periyapatna taluk is in the forefront. H D Kote taluk tops in cotton cultivation, he said adding that 10 per cent more production is planned in 32 hoblis of the district in these crops.

Explaining the steps taken to scale up production, Vishakanta, while addressing a workshop on food crops of Mysore sub-division said, improved seeds and seedlings, balanced use of fertiliser, use of bio-organic fertiliser, maintenance of food production level by crop change, ‘Shri’ method cultivation of paddy minimising water usage, and comprehensive pest management were the measures planned.

Additional deputy commissioner Betsur Mutt asked the officers to record the details of the crop cultivated regularly and in time in land records. Such data will help effectively draft the farm plan of the district.