After Phailin induced flood damaged over 50 per cent of agricultural land in the district bringing down paddy production, a strategy for rabi crop has been drawn to compensate the farmers for loss during kharif season.
At a meeting of Agriculture, Horticulture and Irrigation department officials on Wednesday, it was decided to utilise irrigation resources to the maximum for the ensuing rabi season. Collector Parameswaran B, who chaired the meeting, said priority would be given to high yield paddy and pulses varieties.
Deputy Director of Agriculture Laxman Murmu said around 41,845 tonnes of fertiliser would be required for the season. In the wake of success of System of Rice Intensification (SRI) method of farming, it was decided that the thrust would be laid on cultivating paddy through this method in rabi season too. The Village Agriculture Workers (VAWs) in irrigation pockets have been asked to encourage farmers, in their area of operation, to opt for paddy cultivation under SRI method.
Sources said the Indian Council for Agriculture Research (ICAR) had come out with crop and area-specific recommendations for winter crops. Those include use of high-yield varieties, disease control and improved agronomic practices. The agricultural officials, besides focusing on the use of high-yield seeds, laid emphasis on maximising production of oilseeds and pulses.
“The strategy is to focus on increasing the rabi output to offset the kharif decline,” the Murmu said.