Kharif sowing drops by 30% to 0.94 million hectares in Odisha

Deficient rains during June and in the first week of July has taken a toll on the sowing of cereals in the ongoing kharif season. The sowing data shows a drop of about 30 per cent to 0.94 million hectares compared to 1.33 million hectares covered last year.

During June, the state had recorded 160.8 millimeter of rains against the normal rainfall of 216.5 millimeter, a deficiency of 25.7 per cent. So far in July, the state has witnessed a whopping 46 per cent less rains.

Sowing of paddy, the key Kharif crop, has plunged by 32 per cent to 0.78 million hectares compared to 1.16 million hectares covered as on July 7 last year.
 

Similarly, the sowing of pulses has come down by more than 42 per cent to 0.10 million hectares compared to 0.175 million hectares covered at the same time in July last year.

The Kharif foodgrain production target for 2018-19 is set at 10.37 million tonnes of production, cultivated over 5.11 million hectares of land with a yield rate of 2030 kilogram per hectare. In the cereals bracket, rice production is expected at 8.58 million tonne with the productivity of 2450 kilogram  per hectare, spreading over of 3.5 million hectares of land. Other cereals production include 0.961  million tonne of maize and 0.143 million tonne of Ragi with a yield of 3005 kg and 895 kg per hectare respectively.

Odisha has set a target to bring an area of 1.09 million tonne under the pulses sowing. The output of pulses during the crop season  2018-19 is targeted at 0.67 million tonne including 0.218 million tonne of Arhar and 0.166 million tonne of Mung .

Sowing of oilseeds, fibres, vegetables and spice have  also recorded a drop in sowing area.

“Odisha witnessed deficit rainfall during June and July leading to 30 per cent drop in sowing compared to last year. We are expecting more rains between July 14 and 17 in north, western, southern and northwestern part of the state. Drop in nursery sowing has led to plunge paddy coverage. Nursery sowing can continue till July 15.Those who have completed nursery sowing should start transplantation after July 15”, said Anupama Baliarsingh, professor , department of Agrometeorology at the Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT).

As many as 49 out 314 blocks in the state has recorded deficient rains.