For the last two rainy seasons, Vikrant, a peasant's son and a jobbing labourer in Dhansain tribal village of Kesla block in Hoshangabad district, has a new job at home. He, along with his younger brother, spends the day tilling his father's field. Vikrant's father, Shobharam, has encouraged them to experiment with kharif crops like maize and paddy. Last year, Vikrant had raked in an additional income of Rs 15,000. He plans to buy a tractor five years from now.
Like Shobharam, farmers of the tribal Kesla block have switched over from millets and coarse grains to kharif crops.
Normally, farmers in tribal areas broadcast coarse grains like raagi, kodo, kutki, sawa (minor millets), and jowar (sorghum) during the rainy season.
"Each year kharif acreage in the tribal dominated Kesla block is increasing. This year paddy acreage has touched 4425 hectares, and soya acreage has reached 22985 hectares. The millet acreage has reduced to 700 hectares," says Vinay Dubey, a senior official in agriculture department.
Good monsoon, a fair credit off-take, and better prices have attracted many farmers in the state to adopt the two-crop pattern.
Like Hoshangabad, almost all states have recorded better kharif acreage this season. Soya acreage has touched a record high of 57.20 lakh hectares, against 55.60 lakh hectares last year. That of paddy has reached 16.79 lakh hectares, against 16.03 lakh hectares last year. Its 8.90 lakh hectares for maize compared to 8.31 lakh hectares last year. That of cotton has touched 6.50 lakh hectares, against 6.22 lakh hectares last year.
Availability of seed and fertilizers has also contributed to better acreage. According to a senior official in the agriculture department, this year, soya seed distribution has gone up 34% to touch 13.86 thousand quintals, from 9.65 thousand quintals last year. Similarly, maize seed distribution has reached 65,498 quintals, against 46879 quintals last year. Paddy seed availability has touched 145,196 quintals, against 10,098 quintals last year."
The main fertilizer, urea, is no more in short supply. This year, its availability has reached 6.25 lakh tonnes, against 6.00 lakh tonnes last year.
Farmers are now trying kharif crops even in isolated areas. "We have recorded eight thousand hectares of paddy acreage this year in Hoshangabad. The average production of paddy has reached 28 quintal per hectare in tribal areas, and 31-32 quintal per hectare in other areas in the district. It was hardly 17-18 quintal per hectare two years back. The seed quality has improved and irrigation facilities are better now," Dubey says.
It is not only the expectation of a better kharif yield that has risen hopes of Vikrant and his younger brother, they also feel relieved of erstwhile low-paid jobs in nearby towns. If rain God remains benevolent, as He was this kharif season, Vikrant may realise his dream of owning a tractor.
