Odisha foodgrain output to drop by 30% due to drought

Yield estimated at 1,480 kg a hectares and area covered is 4.91 mn hectares

Foodgrain production in Odisha is likely to drop by about 28% due to erratic and scanty rainfall during the 2015 Kharif season.

Against a target of 10.1 million tonne (mt), the foodgrains output is expected to be 7.268 mt as per the first advance estimate prepared by Odisha agriculture department for Kharif 2015.

The yield is estimated at 1,480 kg per hectares and the area covered is 4.91 million hectares.

This year's target included 9.51 mt of cereals and 0.587 mt of pulses. The cereals include 8.24 mt of rice, 1.09 mt of maize, 0.162 mt of ragi.

Similarly, pulses target comprises 0.19 mt of arhar, 0.15 mt of mung and 0.176 mt of biri.

As per the estimate, the rice production will remain at 6.11 mt while output of jowar, bajra, maize will be 0.0038 mt, 0.0013 mt and 0.6 mt respectively. Similarly, arhar production is likely to drop to 0.127 mt while the biri and cowpea is likely to be 0.10 mt and 0.12 mt respectively.

Total oilseed production is pegged at 0.231 mt and fibre is estimated at 0.47 million bales (one bale equal to 170 to 180 kilogram).

Due to the deficit rainfall, the state government has already declared 139 blocks in 21 districts as drought affected basing on eye witness estimates. Government officials said, about crops in 5.32 lakh hectares have been affected.

More than 100 farmers have committed suicide in Odisha after suffering loss of crop in their land.

Officials estimate the crop insurance claims may rise to Rs 1000 crore, surpassing all previous records.

In Odisha, the National Agricultural Insurance Scheme (NAIS) (Rashtriya Krishi Bima Yojana) is being implemented by the Agriculture Insurance Company of India Limited (AICIL).

As on October 31, as many as 17,15, 000 farmers (including 1.5 lakh non-loanee farmers) covering 15,11, 000 hectares of land have been enrolled as beneficiary under the scheme with a sum assured of Rs 5598.15 crores.