Tapping
of productivity potential of major crops and alleviating the adverse effect due
to natural hazards through intervention on soil and water resources under
different agro ecosystems in Odisha
H.
S. Sen1 and Dipankar Ghorai2
__________________________________________________________________
I
pay my tribute to the departed soul of Prof. N.N.Panda, the doyen of
agricultural science and research management of the country and Odisha in
particular. This is a token and humble presentation in front of the family
members of Prof. Panda and elites, educationists, academicians, research
managers and scores of students present here in memory of the great soul.
__________________________________________________________________
1.
Salient
Fatures of Odisha
·
Occupies
4.7 % of India’s Geographical Area
·
Inhabitants
of 3.58 % human & 4.8% livestock of India’s
·
1451
mm average annual rainfall
·
10.4
% water resources
·
480
km coast length & 2400 sq. km continental shelf
·
10
Agro- climatic zones
·
Prone
to frequent natural calamities such as flood, cyclone & drought (35 times
in the last 45 years)
·
Rich
biodiversity
·
Two
out of 22 Agro-biodiversity hot spots (Koraput & Mayurbhanj) in the country
·
Three
Biosphere Reserves (Bhitarakanika, Similipal & Chilka lake)
1 Former
Director, ICAR-Central Research Institute for Jute & Allied Fibres,
Barrackpore, West Bengal, PIN 700 120 (Present address: 2/74 Naktala,, Kolkata
700 047), Email: hssen.india@gmail.com,
hssen2000@hotmail.com
2 Subject Matter Specialist and Incharge
(Acting), Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Central Research Institute of Jute & Allied
Fibres (ICAR), Burdwan, West Bengal, India -713403, Email: dipankarghoraikvk@gmail.com
2.
Odisha – The Agriculture Scenario
2.1 SWOT Analysis
Strengths
(i)
Ten agro-climatic zones
(ii)
Abundant inland water
(iii)
Favourable terrain for water reservoirs
and power generation
(iv)
Diverse forest wealth
(v)
Low cost of living
(vi)
Long coastline
Weakness
(i) Poor soil quality
(ii) Inadequate farm power availability
(iii)
Low level of irrigation
(iv)
Low fertilizer usage
(v) Low seed replacement ratio
(vi)
Low productivity
(vii)
Poor post-harvest management
(viii) Poor
marketing, transport and physical infrastructure facilities
Opportunity
(i)
Very
good scope for watershed development
(ii)
Scope
for mixed/integrated farming
(iii)
Ample
horticultural potential in highlands
(iv)
Opportunity
for crop diversification
(v)
Scope
for organic manure production for availability large no of livestock
(vi)
Development of
inward, brackish water
and marine fisheries
(vii)
Abundant water
resources for irrigation
Threat
(i)
Recurrence
of natural calamities likely to be intensified over time due to climate change
(ii) Improper
water management systems
(iii)
Declining
agriculture’s contribution to GSDP
(iv)
Reducing
area under cultivation
(v) Increasing erosion and degradation of soil
2.2 Overview
of Agriculture in the State
2.21
Agro-climatic zones of Odisha
The state is broadly
classified in four (4) broad zones based on topography
|
Topographic
Regions
|
Agro-Climatic
Zones
|
%
of Area to Total Area
|
|
COASTAL
PLAIN
|
Major
Parts of ACZ-3 and ACZ-4
|
10
|
|
MIDDLE MOUNTANEOUS & HIGH LAND REGION
|
ACZ- 1, ACZ-2(Part), ACZ-5,
ACZ-6 (Part), ACZ- 7 & ACZ- 10
|
70
|
|
CENTRAL
PLATEAU
|
Parts
of ACZ -2 & ACZ-6
|
5
|
|
WESTERN
ROLLING UPLANDS
|
Major Parts of ACZ - 8 & ACZ-9
|
15
|
Percent distribution of ACZs:
|
No.
|
Distribution
|
Percent area
|
No.
|
Distribution
|
Percent area
|
|
ACZ 1
|
North
Western
Plateau
|
10.0
|
ACZ 6
|
Eastern
Ghat
High
Land
|
8.0
|
|
ACZ 2
|
North
Central
Plateau
|
11.5
|
ACZ 7
|
South
Eastern Ghat
|
4.5
|
|
ACZ 3
|
North
Eastern Coastal Plain
|
6.0
|
ACZ 8
|
Western
Undulating
Zone
|
7.5
|
|
ACZ 4
|
East &
South Eastern Coastal Plain
|
13.0
|
ACZ 9
|
Western
Central
Table
Land
|
16.0
|
|
ACZ 5
|
North
Eastern Ghat
|
15.0
|
ACZ 10
|
Mid
Central
Table
Land
|
8.5
|
2.22
Land Use Pattern
•
Large area is under
forest (36 %)
•
Cultivable area and
cultivable waste comprise of 41 % area
•
Significant area under
barren land (6 %)
•
Homestead land occupies 8
% of the area
The
distribution of land holding for cultivation shows more than 90% area are
marginal while small holding comprises about 70% of area
2.23
Major Crops and their Productivity
Areas
under rice, wheat and maize are 4004.54, 14.49 and 262.05 thousand hectares,
respectively having yield potentiality of 1472, 1686 and 2321 kg ha-1,
respectively. Among the pulses areas under mung and biri comprise of 799.68 and
590.56 thousand hectares with average yield of 414 and 418 kg ha-1,
respectively. Among the vegetables potato, onion, chilli, garlic, ginger and
turmeric are the principal ones; and the areas for other vegetables grown in
the State is 597 thousand hectare with average total yield of 14,210 kg ha-1.
This
is disconcerting that the contribution of agriculture and other activities to
GSDP in constant prices decreased from 29.7 % in 2001-05 (average) to 20.6 % in
2010-11. This appears to be mainly due
to relatively much higher contribution made through service and infrastructure
sectors. Perusal of data on agricultural growth over the entire period shows
however that the area is gradually
decreasing, although slightly, while productivity is remaining almost constant.
But, the problem actually remains with total production which is fluctuating
wildly. While comparing with the national data on productivity since 1970’s
shows that the gap is increasing with time, with the State not able to catch up
with all India average, except for
cotton and sugarcane.
2.24
Power Consumption
Adding to the woos the percent power consumption for
agricultural sector in the State drops from above 3 in early 2000’s to below
1.5 in 2012-13, which is certainly not encouraging in order to attain higher
target yield in future. The main reason ascribed is the lack of dedicated
electric feeder ensuring power supply for agricultural purpose especially to
mega lift points.
In contrast, not only use of electrical power in
agriculture in increasing at the national level, there is staggering disparity
in the same considering use of power being in the range of 20-30% of total
power at national level, while in Odisha the same range is only 1 – 3%. Odisha is at the very bottom when it comes to
use of mechanical power in agriculture, in comparison even with lowlying states
like Jammu and Kashmir, Jharkhand, Chattisgarh, etc.
2.25
Irrigation Scenario
The gross irrigated area during 2012-13 was 33.66
lakh ha (21.87 lakh ha during kharif
and 11.79 lakh ha during rabi) which
is 71.5% of the irrigation potential created. On an average, 29.5% area in
Odisha is irrigated as compared to 40% at national level, only exception is
sugarcane which is 100% irrigated, while for cotton it is abysmally low.
2.26
Fertilizer Consumption
Odisha uses only 62 kg N, P and K fertilizers per
hectare as compared to 129 kg at national level. Soils are medium to low in
soil fertility, and when indexed in terms of soil quality it is worrisome as
compared to some other states.
2.27
Soil Erosion vis-a-vis Shifting Cultivation
The quantum of soil erosion varies from 84 to 170
t/ha/ year in bare fallow. In India, about 5.0 million tribal families are
practising this system (shifting cultivation) on 4.37 million hectare of land
covering 11 states. Odisha having a large no of tribal families and is the
forerunner among Indian states. The problem of soil erosion due to shifting
cultivation is very serious in Odisha. It
has been estimated from an experiment that, on an average 7-10 t/ ha/ year
surface soil is lost along with plant nutrients.
3.
Disaster Vulnerability
Disaster events in various
forms are very common in the State calling for major thrust to be paid for
advance and contingency planning to mitigate the hazards. Multi-hazard maps
have been prepared for Odisha.
3.1 Flood
•
In Odisha, the
entire coastal line of 482 km is exposed to frequent flood and water logging in
most of the years.
•
Heavy rainfall
on the hills of Odisha and flood waters of Jharkhand and Chattisgarh contribute
to flood in coastal lines and deltaic areas of the state.
•
High degree of
siltation, soil erosion, breaching of embankments and tidal flow of sea
restricting disposal of flood water aggravates flood.
Assessment of crop damages
due to flood has been made as follows.
Early
season flood (June-July)
•
Damage of
paddy in nursery, standing crop of vegetables, pulses and oilseeds.
•
Early-transplanted
and standing direct sown paddy is affected by flood.
Mid-Season
flood (August-September)
•
Incidence of
pest and diseases to standing crop that escaped or resisted flood.
•
Damage of
upland non paddy crops like vegetables, pulses and oilseeds at fruiting stage.
•
Damage of
short duration paddy at maturity stage and medium and late duration paddy at
growth stage.
Late-season
flood (October-November)
•
Lodging and germination
of grains in the field.
•
Incidence of
disease and pest in crops that escaped or resisted water logging.
•
High value
vegetables are also affected.
•
Grain
discolouration and quality deterioration.
3.2
Drought
Frequency of meteorological drought between
1960-2003 based on departure of actual annual rainfall has been worked out.
|
Undivided Districts
|
Drought Frequency between
1960-2003
|
|
|
MOD
|
SEVERE
|
|
|
Dhenkanal
|
9
|
1
|
|
Cuttack
|
9
|
0
|
|
Puri
|
7
|
1
|
|
Balasore
|
11
|
0
|
|
Phulbani
|
14
|
1
|
|
Koraput
|
3
|
0
|
|
Kalahandi
|
4
|
2
|
|
Keonjhar
|
11
|
0
|
|
Ganjam
|
5
|
0
|
|
Mayurbhanj
|
7
|
0
|
|
Sambalpur
|
10
|
1
|
|
Sundargarh
|
18
|
2
|
|
Bolangir
|
16
|
2
|
3.3
Cyclones/ High winds
Following are the risks involved.
•
The crops are
submerged due to heavy downpours associated with a cyclonic weather which is
worsened by the impact of high wind.
•
The crops at
flowering and fruiting stage are affected to a greater extent due to lodging
and shattering of pollens, many a times complete damage of the crop.
•
There is
problem of sand casting in the coastal areas.
•
There is also
risk of saline inundation due to sea water ingression in the coastal tracts.
•
The supporting
infrastructures are likely to suffer severe damage impairing the restorative
measures.
•
The loss to
life and properties are so great that the restoration of agriculture is
relegated to a lower priority.
•
The disruption
of communication, power and transport is likely to delay the restorative
efforts and require large funds and co-ordination of all functionaries.
There are as many as 12 events of major cyclones
during 1970-2003. The impacts of super-cyclone in 1999 on different districts
show that 97 blocks (12 districts) have been affected damaging lands and crops
grown on over 1733000 ha area, besides a colossal damage to lives and
properties.
4.
Strategies for Tapping the Crop Productivity
Potential through Soil and Water Management vis-Ã -vis Disaster Vulnerability
4.1
Soil Fertility and Quality Management
(i)
Farmers should
be encouraged to get soil samples of their holding tested once in three years.
(ii)
More Soil
Testing Laboratories, both static and mobile.
(iii)
Soil
amelioration amendments should be made available to farmers at affordable
prices.
(iv)
Cultivation of
green manure crops like Dhanicha, Sunnhemp should be promoted extensively by
making available seeds and technical know-how to the farmers.
(v)
Production and
use of composts, like vermicompost or NADEP compost, should be incentivized.
(vi)
Resource
conserving technologies, like SRI, should be promulgated extensively.
(vii)
State should
launch a drive towards green and clean agriculture with major emphasis on
organic soil amendments. Simultaneously, steps should also be taken to increase
fertilizer consumption for augmenting productivity.
4.2 Soil
Erosion Management
A. Physical: Infrastructural
(i) Contour bunding
(ii)
Graded
bunding
(iii)
Bench
terracing
(iv)
Contour ditches
(v) Grassed
water ways-spill ways
(vi) Water
harvesting structures, ponds.
B. Agronomic : Management Practices
(i) Contour
plowing : Plowing across the slope
(ii) Selection of crop variety
(iii) Integrated nutrient management including more
organics and Bio-fertilizers.
4.3
Improving Productivity of Rice Fallows
Nine (9)
districts in Odisha are under Rice- Fallow system, viz., Koraput, Kalahandi,
Sambalpur, Sundergarh, Bhadrak, Cuttack, Puri, Dhenkanal and Mayurbhanj. Following
may be strategies for these areas.
•
31%
of area under kharif rice remains
fallow during rabi offering a huge
potential niche for short season pulses and oilseed crops.
•
Their
productive utilization can overcome many social and economic problems of the
region like unemployment, labour migration, and low income.
•
Development
and popularization of improved varieties of pulses and oilseeds suiting to rice
fallows of different agro-ecological regions coupled with improved
agro-technology will boost production, and thus improve income and livelihood
security of farming community.
4.4
Water Management
- Irrigation
•
Participatory
Irrigation Management (PIM) should be promoted among the farming community
through the Water Users’ Associations .
•
Ensuring
power supply for agricultural purpose especially to mega lift points.
•
Solar
powered pump set are to be popularized and suitably subsidized
•
Micro
irrigation has to be promoted in a big way in the State by providing lucrative
subsidies
•
Community
reservoirs, on farm reservoirs should be excavated for rainwater harvesting
under designated govt. schemes.
4.5 Water
Management - Others
•
GIS
mapping of groundwater resource for micro level planning.
•
Microlevel water resource development through
tank cum well system.
•
Reclamation of upland acid soil by use of
paper mill sludge and techniques for safe use of paper mill and distillery
wastewater for growing agricultural crops .
•
Design of secondary reservoir for efficient
storage and utilization of rainwater.
•
Design of raised and sunken bed system for
medium and low lands to achieve crop
diversification and higher cropping intensity.
•
Conjunctive use planning of irrigation through
bore-wells, dug wells and ponds in farmers’ participatory approach in canal
command areas.
•
Design and development of sub surface water harvesting structures.
•
Development of contingent crop planning for
post flood scenario in waterlogged areas.
•
Conjunctive
use of fresh water and poor quality water in canal commands.
4.6 Other Agronomic Management Options
4.6.1 Seed
Replacement of Paddy
Present
SRR in Odisha is only 22 % which needs to be enhanced significantly.
·
Various
stakeholders to be promoted and suitably motivated to increase production of
seeds to the desired extent.
·
Subsidized
assistance for construction of seed processing plants along with storage
go-downs.
·
Certification
protocols need to be smoothened for rapid certification. Seed testing
laboratories to be established in block agricultural offices.
·
Regular
capacity building programmes have to be undertaken for knowledge enhancement of
seed production methodologies of HYV and hybrids.
·
There
are more than 2000 indigenous varieties/races of paddy in the State. Farmers
are to be encouraged for registering these indigenous and extant varieties
under the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmeres’ Rights Act 2001.
·
Biotic
and abiotic stress resistant and environmentally safe cultuvars need to be
developed.
·
Information
communication tools should be rigorously used for information dissemination
regarding seed availability.
4.6.2 Fertilizer
and Farm Power
Fertilizer
•
While
suitable measures should be taken to increase fertilizer consumption in the
State, emphasis have to be laid on ‘balanced and integrated fertilization’. The
state should endeavour to promote balanced and integrated fertilization
holistically through suitable programs and incentives.
•
Suitable
incentives/assistance/subsidy need to be ensured for encouraging all
agricultural stakeholders towards production and promotion of organic manures
and organic fertilizers.
Farm
Mechanization
•
Various
stakeholders should be encouraged to form custom hiring centers or implement
hubs for agri- machineries.
•
Use
of small implements are to be promoted with added emphasis
•
Regular
capacity building programmes should be undertaken regarding use, repair and
maintenance of farm machineries for concerned individuals/groups.
•
Women-friendly
farm equipments developed by various institutes are to be promoted.
4.7 Promotion of
Dry land Horticulture
Diverse
agro-climatic conditions favours development of dry land horticulture in the
state.
•
Improving
storage facilities for perishable crops.
•
Plantation
crops like cashew, coconut should be promoted through ‘Contact’ or
‘Partnership’ farming approaches.
•
Various
stakeholders to be encouraged for production of seed/seedling, planting
materials of horticultural crops.
•
Financial
incentives may be provided to producer organisations for floriculture.
Regular
capacity building programmes should be sponsored by the State to encourage
feasible stakeholders for promotion of dry land horticulture.
4.8 Contingent
Planning - Flood
•
Planting
submergence tolerant varieties of paddy in flood prone areas.
•
Raising
community nurseries in relatively higher land in the submergence/ flood prone
areas and transplanting after flood water recedes.
•
Construction/
restoration of check dams, embankments, field bunds/ contour bunding before the
onset of monsoon.
•
In
areas with greater gradient of slope, pucca water/ drainage outlets
should be constructed to protect the farm land from breaking of bonds followed
by soil erosion/ sand cast during heavy downpours.
•
Blocked
Drainage channels could be opened up adequately.
•
Catchments
could be treated appropriately to reduce run-off and soil erosion.
•
Long
and medium term weather forecasts are desirable for reducing the impact.
•
Disaster
Warning Systems to be upgraded.
4.9 Contingent Planning – Drought
•
Emphasis
on use of pressurized irrigation systems, sowing short duration and drought
tolerant varieties of crops.
•
Private
lift irrigation points to be established through suitable assistance.
•
Canals
and their distributaries to be lined
•
Irrigation
channels should be regularly maintained to reduce conveyance losses.
•
Proper
irrigation scheduling with appropriate crop planning taking more of low water
requiring crops in the rainfed high lands & drought prone areas.
4.10 Location
Specific Planning – Highlands
Feasible
programmes for Highland Region may
be as follows:
Water
Conservation and water harvesting
1. Renovation of Existing Tanks
2. Creation of New Water Bodies
3. Farm Ponds in Individual Lands
4. Dug-Out Farm Ponds on Individual
Lands
5. Check-Dam Construction across the
Stream
Integrated
Watershed (Micro Watershed) Development
1. Contour Trench
2. Contour Bunds
3. Gully Plugs
4. Boulder Checks
6. Terracing
7. Vegetative Bunds
Horticulture
& Plantation in Community and Individual Land
1. Nursery Raising
2. Plantation in Degraded Forests
3. Avenue Plantation along Road/Canal
Side
4. Plantation Horticulture Crops such as
Mango, Cashew nut and other suitable species
5. Grassland Development
6. Sabai & Sisal Plantation
7. Boundary Plantation
Land
Development on Community and Individual Land
1. Development of Waste/Degraded Land
2. Land Levelling
3. Field Bunding
4. Land Development on Individual Land
Other
Programmes
1. Promotion of Vermi-Composting
2. Promotion of Bio-Fertilisers
3. Promotion of Bio-Intensive Garden
(Kitchen Garden)
4. Integrated Farming System
4.11 Location
Specific Planning – Coastal Plains
Irrigation
canal development
1. Renovation of existing canal
2. Grass pitching/turfing
3. Stone packing
4. Maintenance activities
Flood
control measures
1. Strengthening of embankments
2. Renovation of channels
3. Construction of storm water drains
4. Maintenance of the structures
Road
and canal side plantation
1. Nursery raising
2. Avenue plantation along road/canal
side
3. Plantation horticulture crops such
as mango, coconut, banana,
cashew nut and other suitable species
5.
Conclusion
For all these programme to materialize, there should be a strictly
vigilant and efficient extension mechanism in the State.
•
Linkages
between Institutions like OUAT, CRRI, and CIFA, etc. should be strengthened to
facilitate a smooth transfer of technology to the farmers.
•
The
KVKs in the district would be the Link Points on short term researchable issues
in the farm sector.
•
Opening
of “Information Kiosk” by interested agri- entrepreneurs should be encouraged.
•
Farm
Information and Advisory Centres (FIAC) should be opened in all Blocks.
•
Extension
essentially have to be,
1.
Farmer-led
2.
Group-led
3.
Market-led
·
We
believe very strongly that the State administration should give, in addition to
the above, a careful consideration to the issue of exploring the possibilities
of value addition of agricultural produce in order to enhance the profitability
of the farmers, on the one hand, and increase the employment opportunity of the
rural youth, on the other, through small and medium level entrepreneurs. Let us
accept, Odisha has bountiful of natural resources and the most critical input,
like the whole of the country, is the Farmers themselves.
