Agricultural commitee sets target to raise pulses output

As per reports, DASC has planned to grow paddy, pulses, oilseeds, vegetable and condiments in 66,800 hectares of land during the rabi season in 2016-2017.

SAMBALPUR: THE District Agricultural Strategy Committee (DASC) has set a target to increase productivity of different crops during the ensuing rabi season. As per reports, DASC has planned to grow paddy, pulses, oilseeds, vegetable and condiments in 66,800 hectares of land during the rabi season in 2016-2017. The area to be covered is nearly 1700 ha more than the 2015-2016 rabi season when crops were grown on 65,093 ha.

District administration sources said, paddy will be cultivated in 14,635 ha with a target to produce 87,810 tonne against the production of 68,816 tonnes during the last rabi season. Similarly, cereals comprising maize and wheat will be cultivated over 526 ha with production target of 1160 tonne during the rabi season against production of 982 tonne over 457 ha.
 Pulses including moong, biri, kulthi, cowpea, fieldpea and gram besides other pulses will be cultivated in 15,527 ha with a target to produce of 8,334 tonne against the production of 6,641 tonne over 15,501 ha during the last rabi season.

The DASC has chalked out plans to produce 6,932 tonne of oilseeds including groundnut, sesame, mustard, castor and sunflower over 11,637 ha during this rabi season against production of 6,515 tonne over 12,550 ha in the last rabi season. This apart, it has been decided to cultivate vegetables, including potato and onion, in 17,676 ha with a production target of 2.11 tonne this season against the production of 1.87 tonne during the last season.

Moreover, condiments including chilli, garlic and coriander will be cultivated in 6,750 ha with a production target of 9,755 tonne this season against production of 9,589 tonne over 6,907 ha during the last rabi season.
 Deputy Director of Agriculture, Sambalpur, Pradosh Kumar Samal said they have planned to increase production through selection and adoption of suitable high yielding varieties of paddy and non-paddy crops in the district. They have also planned to promote cultivation of pulses and oilseeds during the ensuing rabi season, he added.