Presentation on National Conference On Agriculture for Rabi Campaign 2006-07 14-15 th SEPTEMBER, 2006 PANKAJ DWIVEDI Ag

1. Presentation on National Conference On Agriculture for Rabi Campaign 2006-07 14-15th SEPTEMBER, 2006 PANKAJ DWIVEDI Agriculture Production Commissioner & Principal Secretary GOVERNMENT OF CHHATTISGARH DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

2. Chhattisgarh : Agro Climatic Zones & Basic Statistics Basic Statistics (Area in Lakh ha.) Agro Climatic Zones Northern Hills Zone Chhattisgarh Plains Zone Bastar Plateau Zone

3. Measures for improving production and productivity of foodgrains • Chhattisgarh is an important foodgrains producing state with 4.11% of total area and 2.92% of total foodgrains production in the country. • The state occupies 11th position in area and 12th position in foodgrains production. However, it is ranked 16th in terms of productivity. • There is a vast performance – potential gap between present and achievable production and productivity. • A brief review of the current scenario would help in the efforts to achieve goals of improving production and productivity of foodgrains.

4. Productivity status of foodgrains vis-a-vis national & international standards • Average yield of Rice in Australia, Korea, Egypt, Spain, Italy and Japan is nearly double the world average and 2-3 times the yield as in India, Malaysia & Philippines. • Average yield of Maize in Greece, Chile, Austria, Italy and Germany is more than double the world average and five to six times that of India.

5. Improving production and productivity Contd.. Govt. of Chhattisgarh, Department of Agriculture has taken various time tested and innovative measures for improving production and productivity in the state. • Improving production through Area Increase : • Scope for increasing Kharif area is limited. • However, there is vast scope to increase Rabi crop area. Unit – in lakh ha. • Present Cropping Intensity is 136%.

6. Improving production and productivity Contd.. • With higher irrigation coverage and suitable rainfed farming technologies, it is possible to increase rabi crop area to 20.00 lakh ha in near term. • This will result in increase of cropping intensity to 142% thus making 6% addition to foodgrains production through area increase. • This coupled with higher productivity will have major impact on increasing production.

7. Improving production and productivity Contd.. • Increase in Double Cropped Area: Unit – Lakh ha. • Paddy being uneconomic crop in upland condition, efforts have been made to divert such areas into more remunerative crops: Unit – Lakh ha.

8. Improving production and productivity Contd.. Northern Hills Area specific approach • High yielding & high value paddy varieties including hybrids, maize, wheat, gram, moong, urd, niger, groundnut and rapeseed & mustard. • Promotion of organic farming. • High yielding & high value paddy varieties including hybrids. • Wheat, gram, linseed, sunflower, mustard, safflower, groundnut and sugarcane. • Adoption of INM to address micro-nutrients deficiency. • Intercropping of gram, mustard, potato in wheat & sugarcane. Chhattisgarh Plains • HYV & high value paddy varieties, maize, moong, urd, niger, rapeseed & mustard. • Emphasis on indigenous millets & pulses e.g. kodo-kutki, kulthi. • Promotion of organic farming. Bastar Plateau

9. Improving production and productivity Contd.. • Increase in irrigation coverage : • In last two years 55150 ha additional area have been brought under irrigation. • 10314 tubewells dug and 41250 ha land brought under irrigation through Kisan Samriddhi and general tubewell scheme (State Sector). • 322 small ponds excavated and about 13000 ha land brought under irrigation coverage. • 2253 water pumps and 520 dugwells under Shakambhri scheme (State Sector) resulted in 1000 ha additional irrigated land. • It is planned to energize 1.00 lakh pumps in next 2 years.

10. Improving production and productivity Contd.. • Increased use of critical inputs with emphasis on quality • Seed : Increase in use of quality/certified seed (000’ qtls.) • Emphasis on use of latest HYVs of wheat, gram, pea, other pulses, single cross maize hybrids. • State sector Seed Subsidy Scheme started in 2006-07 with State Govt. sanction of Rs. 164.00 lakhs. • Increase in Seed Replacement Rate (SRR %)

11. Improving production and productivity Contd.. • Increase in Seed Production area : • Seeds made available at lower rates to increase quality seed use : (Rs/qtl)

12. Improving production and productivity Contd.. • Increase in use of Fertilizers (NPK, kg/ha) • Bio-fertilizers, organic fertilizers and bio-pesticides distribution plan have been made with strict adherence to FCO (as amended in June 2006) and CIB norms. • Pesticides Quality Control Lab, Tissue Culture Lab & Bio-control Lab under construction with GOI, MOA grants-in-aid would be functional soon. • These measures will have positive impact on distribution of quality plant nutrients, pesticides & other inputs with potential of improving production & productivity.

13. Improving production and productivity Contd.. • Credit Promotion : • Timely availability of credit at required quantum will be ensured so that farmers can procure critical farm inputs with ease. • Agriculture Credit Flow in Cooperative secter : Unit-Rs. Crore • Agricultural Insurance : • Greater insurance coverage will be ensured to act as a cushion against adverse weather scenario Unit-Rs. Crore K=Kharif, R= Rabi

14. Improving production and productivity Contd.. • Promotion of Farm Mechanization : • Apart from distribution of tractors, power tillers, power/tractor/bullock driven implements on subsidy, to encourage mechanization, 1350 live demonstration of implements conducted. • Custom hiring of machines have been emphasized (more than 22000 hours). Quality control test of about 15000 implements made. • Emphasis will be on distribution of gender/women friendly implements. • Increased use of Farm Power (kw/ha):

15. Improving production and productivity Contd.. • Accelerated technology transfer to farmers : • State level Agriculture Training Academy have been established. • Extension Reforms Scheme (ATMA model) launched in 5 districts (Bilaspur, Kabirdham Jagdalpur, Raigarh & Sarguja). • 10 additional offices of Sub-divisional Agriculture Officer started. • Departmental web-site launched on 31st March, 2006. • Mass Media Programme through AIR & Doordarshan operating successfully. • Six new KVKs have been started on land provided by State Agriculture Department. A total of 10 KVKs are functioning. Two KVS will start functioning shortly. • Various National & International seminars, inter-regional farmer fairs, inter-state visit of farmers have been organized.

16. II. Financial Targets & Achievement under various Centrally Sponsored Schemes, 2005-06 Unit – Rs. in lakh

17. Physical & Financial Targets & Achievement under various Centrally Sponsored Schemes, 2005-06 * Varieties above 10 years not considered for subsidy/ Unavailability of Sugarcane breeder/foundation seeds.

18. Contd. Physical & Financial Targets & Achievement * Fund received at end of March, 2006. Work is in progress.

19. Physical & Financial Targets & Achievement Contd.

20. Contd. Physical & Financial Targets & Achievement * Unavailability of breeder/foundation seeds.

21. Contd. Physical & Financial Targets & Achievement * Late receipt of funds.

22. III. Critical Assessment of the efficacy of Existing Extension Network • Extension services provided are general in nature rather than specific and intensive. • Present system is supply based (inputs as seed, fertilizer, etc.) for growing particular crop/commodity rather than demand driven (as per market need). • Poor extension, research & farmer linkage. • Poor technological knowledge of VLWs. • Insufficient strength of extension personnel.

23. III. Critical Assessment of the efficacy of Existing Extension Network • Inadequate number of vehicles at the field level adversely affect the mobility of extension personnel. • There is need of greater research and extension inputs from SAU, KVKs which presently do not appear to be forthcoming. • No major breakthrough have been achieved by SAU in recent years in terms of crop varieties suitable for agro-climatic regions of the state.

24. III. Critical Assessment of the efficacy of Existing Extension Network • Scientists and researchers from SAU need to be more alive to the location specific agricultural problems. • There is far greater need to make aware the farmers bridge the potential gap between actual production & productivity obtained and that achieved in Front Line Demonstrations conducted by SAU.

25. Capacity to Deliver Technology at the Farm Field • The state has the capacity and potential to deliver to technology. This is evident from a recent study by “India Today” which shows spectacular 400% growth in agriculture sector (considering farm GDP, farm power consumption, farm loans, productivity, etc.) • The state is encouraging coordination of farmers with private entrepreneurs, NGOs & cooperatives for contract system of agricultural production and agro-industries which are labour intensive, market oriented having focus on value addition and higher job opportunities.

26. Capacity to Deliver TechnologyContd.. • Extension Reforms Scheme (ATMA model) have been launched in five districts. • In view of meagre technical know-how of lower level field staff, Diploma Courses in Agriculture through Distance Education have been planned. • Service recruitment rules are also being amended so that only suitably qualified field staff are inducted in future. • Departmental setup has been finalized and one VLW (RAEO) has been entrusted the responsibility to cater to needs of 1000 farmer families.

27. Capacity to Deliver TechnologyContd.. • State Seed & Agriculture Development Corporation is setting up modern Bio-fertilizer production centre. • State Seed Certification Agency has been entrusted responsibility of finalizing the Organic Produce Certification procedure. • To promote organic farming a programme of Rs. 1180 lakhs have been prepared (Sarguja, Jagdalpur, Kanker & Rajnandgaon). • State Seed & Agriculture Development Corporation has begun manual/bullock driven implements. • For increasing sprinkler & drip irrigation system a programme of Rs. 8498 lakhs have been prepared.

28. Post –harvest management to minimize losses • Around 10 per cent of foodgrains are lost due to faulty post harvest management practices. • Use of Mini Rice & Dal Mills, which are affordable for the farmers will be encouraged. • About 7500 gender friendly equipments to be distributed in the year 2006-07 • To minimize the post harvest losses it has also been planned to distribute groundnut decorticator (1200), paddle operated paddy thresher (500), winnowing fans (1500), different power threshers (500), mini rice mills (35) and maize shellers (4500).

29. Creation of Adequate Marketing Infrastructure • State Govt is focusing on adequate strengthening of marketing infrastructure. • The State APMC (Amendment) Act is already in place. • Display boards have been put up initially in 20 Mandis to provide easy access of daily market rates to the farmers. • Greater progress in rural roads, establishment of cold storages, godowns, internet connectivity to all Mandis in the state are being emphasized. • With GOI, MOA assistance 16500 MT seed storage capacity have been added in 2005-06. • 08 Mandis specializing in handling of flower & fruits have been established.

30. Focus on Inputs availability and its distribution • Timely availability of suitable and quality inputs have been ensured :

31. Inputs availability and its distribution Contd.. • Demand-supply plan of various inputs submitted at Zonal Conference held in New Delhi on 4-5th September 2006. • Necessary arrangements finalized to ensure availability of critical inputs even in the remotest part of the state. • Bio-fertilizer and organic fertilizer availability and distribution planned with emphasis on quality control as per FCO (June 2006 amendment) norms. • Pesticide & Bio pesticide distribution planned with quality control strictly according to CIB norms. • Timely availability of quality implements including distribution of gender friendly implements are being focused.

32. THANKS