The Orissa government has decided to promote non-paddy crops in highlands while continuing with the emphasis on paddy cultivation as part of its strategy to usher in the second ?green revolution? in the state.
?For the success of the second green revolution, Orissa needs to focus on non-paddy coverage in highlands along with production and productivity of paddy,? chief minister Naveen Patnaik said at a workshop organised by the state government to make the central government?s initiative of bringing in second ?green revolution? in eastern India a success.
Finance minister Pranab Mukherjee had sanctioned Rs 400 crore in the 2010-2011 Union Budget for the initiative.
Meanwhile, Orissa, which is one of the biggest paddy (de-husked rice) growing states of eastern India, has decided to take full advantage of the initiative to bridge the yield gap between the state and the national average, which is too high.
Identifying that low productivity is a stumbling block for the state?s agricultural growth, Orissa has decided to channelise its resources on sustainable high productivity.
?We have urged agriculture experts to conceive a strategy for dryland farming taking into consideration the factor of climate change,? said Orissa agriculture minister Damodar Rout.
Orissa agriculture was on par with other agriculturally advanced states like Punjab and Haryana till the Third Five Year Plan, but then it lagged behind as it was neglected during the first green revolution.
At present, Orissa stands second in ground nut production in the country. The state is surplus in rice production.
The Centre has provided Rs 400 crore for ushering second green revolution in eastern Indian states of Orissa, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Bihar, Chhattishgarh and east Uttar Pradesh. Orissa?s share of the allotted amount this year is around Rs 80 crore.