Drought impact: Odisha to encourage non-paddy cultivation

With about 14 per cent less raifall pushing the state into drought, Odisha government today decided to encourage farmers to go for non-paddy cultivation during the coming Rabi season to compensate for crop loss in Kharif season.
"Since water levels at reservoirs have dropped due to deficient rainfall, farmers will be encouraged to grow non-paddy crops. Inputs will be provided to farmers by the government and we will inform all the collectors after preparing plans about the types of crops in respective regions," Chief Secretary G C Pati told reporters after a high level meeting.
Stating that a drive will be launched to encourage farmers to undertake System Rice Intensification (SRI) method of paddy cultivation, Pati said "In the low lying areas where only paddy can be cultivated, the farmers will be encouraged to grow paddy in SRI method which requires about 40 per cent less water."

As reservoirs at Hirakud, Balimela, Upper Kolab, Indravati and Rengali do not have sufficient water, the farmers will be told to take to cultivating crops requiring less water.
Pati also asked the departments of water resources, energy and agriculture to coordinate on the use of reservoir water for purposes of agriculture and power generation.
He also asked the agriculture department to monitor cultivation in the areas close to ayacuts.

"The farmers undertaking cultivation near ayacuts would be guided by officials of agriculture department and provided with quality seeds, fertiliser and other helps to ensure good crop yield," Pati said.
He said though the state has the capacity to provide irrigation to 3 lakh hectares for paddy cultivation through community lift irrigation system, the same volume of water could meet irrigation requirement of over 5 lakh hectares if non-paddy crop is cultivated.

Therefore, he said, the state will encourage farmers to go for non-paddy crop this time in view of the deficient rainfall in 2015 monsoon.
The state government has declared 139 blocks in 21 out of the total 30 districts as drought affected and crops loss over 5.32 lakh hectares of land due to the drought.