The cloud of uncertainty has overcast Orissa. As the monsoon rain plays truant, no one is sure about the Kharif harvest this season. ?So far the crop has been saved. But, the next few weeks are critical for a moderate harvest this Kharif season,? says Dr Arabinda Padhi, Director, Agriculture and Food Production.
Unlike many other states in the country, Orissa may not be facing a drought. But scanty rainfall and dry spells has created a spectre of drought-like situation.
There was moisture stress in some parts of the state due to deficient rainfall. But, the incessant rainfall last week, improved the crop prospects. The state received 61% deficient rainfall in June. The next month, it received a surplus rainfall by 73%. But, the distribution of time and space was erratic. In August again, the deficiency is 37%.
Setting a target of 91 lakh tonnes of food grains during Kharif, the state had made elaborate arrangements to increase the productivity of food grains. The state has set a target of harvesting 80 lakh tonnes of rice this Kharif season as against an all time high of 77 lakh tonnes in 2007-08 and 69 lakh tonnes of 2008-09. It has strengthened the inputs like seeds and fertilisers well in advance. A record 5 lakh quintals of seeds were supplied to the farmers. Fertiliser supply was by and large normal.
Crop coverage till August 22 was 50.79 lakh hectares out of which paddy coverage was 33.16 lakh hectares. In the third week, Behusaning (inter-cultural operations) has been started in some of the places. ?Aberration in weather pattern is certainly going to affect the productivity this Kharif season,? says Padhi .
?While the erratic rainfall created moisture stress in several parts of the state, swarming caterpillars (Leda Poka) caused damage to crops in about 40,000 hectares in Sundergarh, Sambalpur, Nuapada, Malkangiri, Koraput (Jeypore area) and Kalahandi (Mandanpur-Rampur area) districts,? says Padhi. He adds, ?The incessant rain and sunny weather became conducive for the caterpillar to spread like epidemic. The pest menace could be controlled by providing pesticide and sprayer at 50% subsidised rate to the affected farmers.?
?Though the food production is likely to be affected, we are yet to revise the target. We will assess the crop situation and would be able to give the advance estimate of food production sometime by mid-September,? Padhi affirms.
The state government has put in place a contingency plan to save the farmers in the eventuality of a drought-like situation. ?We are planning to cover 6 to 7 lakh hectares under early Rabi crop. The catch crop usually starts from November-December, but we will start by September -October. Pulses like green gram, black gram and moong would be promoted under Pulses Village Scheme. Farmers will be provided 50% subsidy on seeds and would be provided fertilisers like gypsum, DAP, Phosphorous Soluble Bacteria (PSB),? assures Padhi. Meanwhile, the state food supplies and consumer welfare department has geared up to meet the situation in an eventuality of a drought like situation. The department which has procured a record 32 lakh tonnes of rice in 2008-09 Kharif market season (KMS) as against the target of 31 lakh tonnes is expecting that there would be no shortage of rice this Kharif too. However, it is keeping watch on the stocks of pulses, edible oil and vegetables.
?We have directed the district collectors to keep an eye on the prices of essential commodities and also vegetables,? confirms Manoj Ahuja, Secretary, Food supplies and Consumer Welfare. He adds that the district administration have been alerted about the hoarding and blackmarketing of these items.
Orissa perhaps has a chance this time to escape the vagaries of nature. But to announce that may take some more time.