State strives for 4% growth in agriculture

With the agricultural production in Orissa far from satisfactory and the state's spurt in growth in recent years driven mainly by industrial and services sectors, the state government has now emphasised on scaling up agricultural output and achieve the targeted four per cent growth in the sector.

“With the increase in population and demand, we need to step up our agricultural production. So far, the growth in agricultural production has not been satisfactory. The target of 4 per cent growth has not been achieved,” said U P Singh, secretary, agriculture, Orissa government.

He was speaking at “AgriMart : A Way Ahead”, a conference on agriculture organized by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).

Speaking on the occasion, Trailokya Mishra, Chairman, Nayagarh Sugar Limited, said “Now in Orissa, the average age of agricultural work force is more than 45 years. The working efficiency of these old age group is less, causing increase in cost of production. Furthermore, in Orissa, agriculture contributes 20 per cent to the total state domestic product and 75 per cent work force is dependent on agriculture.”

“Agriculture system in Orissa is for sustainability, livelihood and food security where as in case of other states it is for competition. Given the rate of our population growth, we need 4 per cent increase in food grain production. But since the last two Plan Periods it is gradually declining. This will create an acute food grain shortage in the future”, he added.

More than 35 farmers from different parts of the state participated in the conference where issues such as soil fertility, improving production technology in horticulture and importance and effective application of fertilisers were discussed.

Fertilizer manufacturers, farming equipment and pesticide manufacturers, banks and other financing agencies, investors and farmers, NGOs and government officials also attended the conference.