K'taka targets 19% growth in food grain production in 12th plan

Also aiming at seed distribution of 1.6 mn quintals per year in 12th plan vs 1.15 mn quintals

The Karnataka government is aiming at increasing its food grain production by around 19% in 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%.

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% in average seed distribution in the 11th Plan over 10th Plan period.

The government also said average sugarcane production also witnessed a 63.3% 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 at seed distribution of 1.6 million quintals 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 significant growth in oil seeds and cotton production. However, this is expected to be corrected in 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 as 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 by achieving a growth of 5.7% during the 11th Plan period, the chief minister said.