Low pressure rain raises hope of normal output in Orissa

Orissa may be grappling with deficient monsoon but the recent low pressure has induced rainfall in many coastal parts of the state has revived hopes of the state meeting its targeted kharif output of 7.46 million tonnes for 2010-11.

The projected kharif production of 7.46 million tonnes includes 6.3 million tonnes paddy, with the remaining being cereals, pulses and vegetables.

The total agriculture production in the state has been projected at 9.27 million tonnes for the current financial year. This includes 7.46 million tonnes in the kharif season and 1.81 million tonnes in the rabi season. The projected production marks a 6.84 per cent growth over the production of 8.68 million tonnes in the agriculture season of the previous financial year.

“We have set quite a modest target of 746,000 tonnes of foodgrain in this kharif season and right now, we do not apprehend any shortfall in production. It is true that the overall rainfall in the state for the month of July has been deficient by 12 per cent (till July 27) but the amount of rainfall has been sufficient for transplantation of paddy. Besides, low pressure induced rain in three days (July 24, 25 and 26) have broken the dry spell and brought a rainfall of 106 mm to the state, raising hopes of a good kharif output”, U P Singh, state agriculture secretary told Business Standard.

Singh admitted that there were fears of the death of sown seedlings due to deficient rain till the third week of July but fears were set aside by the low pressure rain that lashed many parts of the state. Even though the overall shortfall in rainfall in the state was 32 per cent for the month of June, it was adequate for the sowing operations of the current kharif season, he added. In the kharif season of 2010-11, 5.8 million hectares would be devoted to production of rice, cereals, pulses and vegetables. A major chunk of this area (3.6 million hectares) is being earmarked for paddy cultivation. Singh stated that the area for agricultural production in this kharif season has been more or less the same compared to last year and clarified that there would be no dip in the area under cultivation.

Despite the deficient monsoon, agricultural operations have kicked off on 2.66 million hectares till July 17 out of which paddy cultivation has been taken up over 1.79 million hectares. Cultivation was done in 2.43 million hectares of land by the third week of July in last year’s kharif season out of which paddy cultivation was on 1.66 million hectares.

A Weather Watch Group constituted under the chairmanship of Agriculture Production Commissioner R N Senapati is reviewing the agricultural operations scenario in the state every week. It may be noted that as many as 17 districts of the state have received deficient rainfall of 30-50 per cent in the current month till July 21. Of these 17 districts, four districts- Angul, Deogarh, Kendrapara and Mayurbhanj have received 50 per cent less rainfall. Only three districts- Rayagada, Nabarangpur and Ganjam have received more than normal rainfall in July.