Karnataka aims foodgrain output growth of 19%

The Karnataka government is aiming to increase its foodgrain production by 19 per cent during the 12th Plan period. The government is targeting an average of 14.3 million tonnes per annum during the period starting 2012-13 as against 12 million tonnes achieved during the 11th plan period.

According to state government the productivity of food grains, which was at 1,278 kg per hectare during the 10th Plan increased to 1,631 kg per hectare during the 11th Plan registering an increase of 27.6 per cent.

Speaking at the National Development Council (NDC), Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar, said: “The productivity of food grains was stagnant for a long time and which was at 1,278 kg per hectare in the 10th Plan. In the 12th Plan the productivity target has been fixed at 1,818 kg per hectare.”

He also said, the state was able to achieve an increase of 69 per cent in average seed distribution during the 11th Plan over the 10th Plan period.

The government also said, the average sugarcane production also witnessed a 63.3 per cent growth in the 10th Plan from 19.25 million tonnes to 32.20 million tonnes during the 11th Plan. The state has, however, set an ambitious target of achieving an average sugarcane production of 48 million tonnes per annum during the 12th Plan.

It is also aiming to distribute 1.6 million quintals of seeds per year in the 12th Plan compared to 1.15 million quintals achieved during the 11th Plan.

Shettar also said: “The state could not achieve a significant growth in oil seeds and cotton production. However, this is expected to be corrected during the 12th Plan with focused attention on oil seed and cotton by setting an ambitious annual target of 1.63 million tonnes and 1.25 million bales in the 12th Plan compared to the achievement of 1.11 million tonnes and 930,000 bales respectively in the 11th Plan.”

Overall, the agriculture sector has performed well, achieving a growth of 5.7 per cent during the 11th Plan period, the chief minister said. Animal Husbandry and Dairy Sector in the state have contributed significantly to the state’s economy. Contributions from this sector form 22 per cent of the agricultural GSDP.

Milk production registered significant growth in the last few years and reached a production level of 4.8 million tonnes and it has the potential to reach higher levels if the shortage in green fodder is made good, he said.

“A massive programme has to be launched to increase the production of green fodder and fodder seeds. A suitable policy is to be framed which should also include research on new fodder crops,” Shettar added.