Odisha foodgrain output to drop by 43% due to drought

Against target of 10.1 mn tonnes, output een at 5.7 mn tonnes as per second advance estimate of state govt

With drought affecting 28 of the 30 districts in Odisha during Kharif 2015, foodgrain production in the state is likely to drop by more than 43 per cent.

Against the target of 10.1 million tonne (mt), the foodgrain output is expected to be 5.7 mt as per the second advance estimate prepared by the Odisha government.

The yield is estimated at 1146 kg per hectare and the area covered is 4.91 million hectares. The output includes 5.305 mt of cereals and 0.382 mt of pulses. This yield is against the target of 9.51 mt of cereals and 0.587 mt of pulses.

As per the estimate, rice production, a key Kharif crop, will remain at 4.54 mt while output of jowar, bajra, maize will be 0.0039 mt, 0.0013 mt and 0.61 mt respectively. Similarly, arhar output is estimated at 0.117 mt while biri and cowpea are likely to be 0.118 mt and 0.22 mt respectively.

Total oilseed production is pegged at 0.212 mt and fibre output will be 0.37 million bales (one bale equal to 170 to 180 kilogram).

"Severe drought has taken a toll on the food grain production in the state. We have submitted the crop wise second advance estimates of area yield and production of food grains, oilseeds and other crops for 2015-16 to the Centre", said an agriculture department official.

In Odisha, 28 out 30 districts were affected by the drought. As many as 1535902 hectares of crop area in 29176 villages of 3832 gram panchayats under 235 blocks in 28 districts and 412 wards under 55 urban local bodies have suffered damage to the extent of 33 per cent and above.

The state government has already sought an assistance of Rs 2344.99 crore from the centre. More than 100 farmers have committed suicide in Odisha after suffering loss of crop.