Kharif sowing picks up in Odisha after normal rains

Kharif sowing in Odisha has picked up with the resumption of the monsoon in July, though there was a deficit in rainfall in June compared to the corresponding period last year.

As of July 16, Kharif sowing has been undertaken in 2.53 million hectares (ha) compared to 2.56 milion ha covered during the same period a year ago.

The state has witnessed a 16 per cent deviation in rainfall, which is termed as normal. Odisha has received 212 mm actual rainfall against the normal rainfall of 252 mm.

Cereals have been sown in 1.72 million ha. Paddy, the key kharif crop of the state, has been sown on 1.484 million ha, compared to 1.487 million ha last year. Pulses have been sown on 0.24 million ha.

"The sowing area is normal this year and equals last year's coverage. There is no alarming condition in the state. Transplantation can continue up to August 15," said Anupama Baliarshing, associate professor of agro-meteorology at the Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology.

The state government has set a foodgrain production target of 10.1 million tonnes (mt) in the Kharif season after standing crops were destroyed by the drought last year.

Cereals will be cultivated on about 4.01 million ha of land, with a productivity ratio of 2,332 kg per ha. This includes rice cultivation on 3.6 million ha, with yield rate of 2,370 kg per ha, maize on 0.3 million ha, with productivity quotient of 2,850 kg per ha, and ragi on 0.16 million ha, with yield rate of 900 kg per ha.

Similarly, the targeted for pulses is 1.02 million ha, with productivity ratio of 616 kg per ha. The kharif sowing area includes 0.4 million ha of oilseeds, 0.17 million ha of fibres, 0.368 million ha of vegetables and 0.10 million ha of spices.