Rabi crops output to increase despite drought: Agri Minister

India will register a higher rabi crop output this year despite drought in large parts of the country, Union Agriculture and Farmer Welfare Minister Radha Mohan Singh said today.
"We have received a second survey report, on the basis
Of
which it has been projected that the rabi crops output will be higher this year than last year despite drought and related problems, he said at the 16th foundation day celebrations of the ICAR, eastern region, here.
Agriculture scientists had developed
93 varieties of high

yield drought-resistant crops which were distributed among farmers for cultivation during the current rabi season, he added.

The minister said that the NDA government had taken up a project to improve soil fertility and irrigation facilities in order to increase cultivation.
For the purpose, the Centre has launched two schemes - the Pradhan Mantri Sichai Yojana (PMSY) and soil health card, he added.
The states have already sent 80 lakh samples of soil for test at different laboratories and one lakh farmers have been given soil health card against a target of 14 crore farmers identified for the purpose by March 2017, Singh said.
He, however, rued the fact that Bihar was a laggard in both these aspects.

While the states like Andhra Pradesh have sent excess soil samples, Bihar has lagged behind in drive to renew soil, he pointed out.
Observing that the Bihar government appeared to be pursuing an agenda different from the Centre's national agenda for soil renewal, Singh pleaded with the state government to showcase sincerely in implementation of the soil health card project as the land belongs to the country and not to an individual.
With organic food becoming a fad among the people, Singh
said that the Centre had set aside Rs 300 crore for distribution among states to promote organic farming.

Observing that the cultivation of traditional crop has become less remunerative for the farmers due to droughts and unseasonal weather patterns in recent years, Singh said that the Centre had taken note of putting more money in the hands of those depending on farming as primary source of livelihood by suggesting them to undertake dairy, fishing and related activities.
Singh also hailed the scientific work being carried
Out by
the ICAR, eastern region, to develop new seeds of paddy, wheat, pulse and oil seeds, besides crop diversification, animal husbandry and fisheries.
The eastern states are blessed with fertile land and adequacy of water to meet not only the foodgrains requirement of this region, but also for the country for which it has been touted as harbinger of second green revolution, Singh noted.