More areas in the district will be brought under cultivation of paddy and vegetables during this year’s kharif season that begins in June.
Sambalpur District Agricultural Strategy Committee (SDASC) recently set a target of cultivating kharif crop in an area of 1, 95,610 hectares (ha) against 1,93,607 ha during last year. Paddy comprising high yield, hybrid and local varieties will be cultivated in around 1,04,800 hectares with production target of 4,22,600 tonne against 4,10,396 tonnes in 1,04,800 hectares last season.
Pulses will be cultivated in 37,900 ha with a production target of 22,200 tonnes and vegetables in 24,800 ha. Likewise, condiments including chilli, ginger and turmeric will be cultivated in 6,860 ha and oilseeds in 15,459 ha.
In a bid to achieve the target, irrigation potential has been enhanced from 64,072 ha to 65,206 ha while about 23,687 quintals of seeds will be provided to the farmers. Apart from this, steps will be taken for soil profiling and micro-nutrient test, acid soil management through application of paper mill sludge and gypsum, increasing production through utilisation of quality seeds and irrigation potential, promotion of bio-fertiliser besides capacity building of the farmers and farm labourers through training and exposure visit.
Deputy Director of Agriculture, Sambalpur, Ashok Mohanty said farmers of the district would be encouraged to go for non-paddy cultivation during kharif season.
He also advised the farmers interested in paddy crop to opt for Line Transplanting and System of Rice Intensification (SRI) for better production.