Rabi Output In Mp Down By 71 Lakh Tonne During 2000-01

The rabi output in the state has gone down by 71 lakh tonne due to severe drought conditions in Madhya Pradesh. While the kharif output was down by 22 lakh tonne, the cumulative loss in foodgrains production stood at 30 lakh tonne during the year 2000-2001.

According to sources at department of agriculture, 36 lakh hectare of land area remained dry and state failed to cultivate it during rabi season, while 2.5 lakh hectare cultivable area remained untouched during kharif season this year.

The sources informed further that the worst drought-hit areas of Nimar and Malwa plateau registered agriculture output of 35 per cent at an average rate. The Jhabua and Malwa region were the most affected regions and at least 40 per cent of the farms left even unploughed due to drought, added the sources.

The Rabi output stood at 51.26 lakh tonne during said year against the 122.36 lakh tonne during year 1999-2000. The state sowed an area of 45.57 lakh hectare this year against the 89.20 lakh hectare during the current year.

The wheat output stood at 29.50 lakh tonne (sowed area 22.00 lakh hectare), gram output stood at 13.50 lakh tonne (sowed area 18.52 lakh hectare), Masoor 1.60 lakh tonne ( 4.10 lakh hectare), mustard 2.70 lakh tonne (4.49 lakh hectare), sugarcane 2.26 lakh tonne (0.30 lakh hectare). Sunflower yield was 0.02 lakh tonne.

Madhya Pradesh is predominantly kharif crops growing state. Kharif crops occupy about 61 per cent area in the state whereas rabi crops occupy about 39 per cent area out of the total cropped area in the state.

About 49 per cent of the cropped area generally occupied by cereal crops, while pulses occupied 21 per cent area and oilseed occupied about 23 per cent area. Vegetables, fruits, fodder and other horticultural crops occupy rest 7 per cent area.

The districts like Hoshangabad, Sagar and Jabalpur division, which are known for good cultivable black soil also, registered a fall in the production.

The total food grain output in these districts slipped by 15 per cent.