Odisha mainly has an agriculture-based economy. Agriculture is the leading sector in the state, contributing approximately 20% to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Approximately 65% of the entire workforce is involved in the agricultural sector. Approximately 82% of the overall population resides in rural regions.
The entire area suitable for cultivation in the state for crops constitutes roughly 40% of the total geographic region. The State achieved temporary success in crop area, production, productivity, food security, and irrigation this year, increasing in farmers' income. Agriculture makes up 30% of the Net State Domestic Product.
The area dedicated to paddy cultivation is the largest, with pulses, oilseeds, and fiber crops following it. The primary cash crop is jute, succeeded by sugarcane, whereas cashew nut, rubber, and tea are considered new cash crops. Shifting cultivation is practiced in numerous regions and is identified by various terms, such as Dedhi in Sambalpur, Toila Chasa in Keonjhar, Baru in Ganjam, and Haru in Rayagarh.
Cropping Seasons In Odisha
a) Kharif Season
This season begins with the pre-monsoon rains during June-July when farmers ready their land for planting, and with the arrival of monsoon, they sow Kharif crops. The harvest of the crops takes place in September or October. The main Kharif crops in Odisha include paddy, jowar, millets, maize, groundnut, jute, cotton, and pulses, among others.
b) Rabi Season
This season starts in November and concludes approximately in April. Since there is no rainfall during these months in much of India, the Rabi crops rely on sub-soil moisture and artificial irrigation. Rabi crops significantly contribute to the economy of Odisha more than Kharif crops do. The primary Rabi crops of Odisha include wheat, gram, and oilseeds.
c) Zaid Season
In addition to the two main cropping seasons noted earlier, there are also short-duration crops such as moong, urad, watermelon, and others, cultivated during the intermediate summer season. This period is referred to as the Zaid season.
Major Crops Of Odisha
The climate of Odisha is conducive to growing various crops. Among these crops, significant ones include rice, pulses, oilseeds, jute, sugarcane, coconut, and turmeric.
Crops for cash such as jute, tea, cotton, and rubber are likewise cultivated. By district, Cuttack and Balasore hold the second position in jute production, Puri excels in gram, and Mayurbhanj leads in maize production.
Rice
It is restricted to the coastal plains, river valleys, and command regions of the Hirakud dam on the Mahanadi river where alluvial soil is present. It is focused in the regions of Cuttack, Sambalpur, Puri, Ganjam, Balasore, Koraput, Keonjhar, and Kalahandi.
The state accounts for one-tenth of India’s rice output. In 2016-17, the Central Rice Research Institute released nine different seed varieties. Srimati, Priya, Pradhan Dhan, Prasant, and Mukul are some typical types of rice. Rice requires a warm and moist environment. The typical temperature needed is 25°C or higher.
Pulses
The primary pulses cultivated in Odisha are arhar, tur, and gram. Based on classification, the pulses in Odisha can be generally categorized into Kharif and Rabi crops. The Mahanadi delta, Rushikulya plains, and the areas of Hirakud and Badimula are suitable for pulse farming. The cultivation of pulses is primarily focused in districts such as Cuttack, Puri, Kalahandi, Dhenkanal, Balangir, and Sambalpur.
Food Grains
This encompasses grains, millets, and legumes. Among grains, the most significant crop is rice. Next comes ragi, maize, wheat, minor millets, and bajra. All of these, aside from wheat, are coarse cereals and pertain to more resilient crops that are primarily grown in the middle mountainous, undulating uplands and plateaus of Odisha.
Oilseeds
Sesame, groundnut, mustard, castor, and linseed are the main oilseeds cultivated in Odisha. Oilseeds are classified into Kharif and Rabi categories. Rabi oilseeds are cultivated as a secondary crop following the harvest of cereals. Among oilseeds, groundnut and castor are the more resilient crops and are cultivated on marginal and sub-marginal lands. Balasore excels in mustard cultivation while Cutrack specializes in groundnut production. Oil palm is cultivated in the Odishtion districts of Gajapati, Rayagada, Dhenkanal, and Sundergarh.
Government Schemes For Agricultural Development
National Mission On Agricultural Extension And Technology
The NMAET has been executed in the state by the Agricultural Department of Odisha since 2014-15. This encompasses four subdivisions. The Sub-Mission on Agriculture Mechanisation (SMAM), Sub-Mission on Agriculture Extension (SMAE), Sub-Mission on Seed and Planting Material (SMSP), and Sub-Mission on Plant Protection and Plant Quarantine (SMPP) are all included.
Mini Mission-1 on Oilseeds
It is one of the three National Missions focused on Oilseeds and Oil Palm (NMOOP). The Mini Mission-1 for oilseeds is being executed to promote the cultivation of oilseed crops by the state's Directorate of Agriculture & Food Production. It is applied in the state for oilseed crops such as groundnut, soyabean, rapeseed, mustard, sunflower, and others.
National Mission For Sustainable Agriculture
It has been put into effect in the state since the financial year 2014-15 by the Agricultural Department of Odisha. The NMSA consists of four primary components: Soil Health Management (SHM), On Farm Water Management (OFWM), Rainfed Area Development (RAD), and Climate Change and Sustainable Agriculture Monitoring Modeling Networking (CCSAMMN).
Biju Krushaka Kalyan Yojana
The BKKY was initiated in November 2013 with the aim of offering health and accident insurance to all farming families in the state.
Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana
RKVY has been implemented in Odisha since the 2007-08 period. Approximately 620 projects are being executed by 24 executing agencies.
National Horticulture Mission
The National Horticulture Mission (NHM) has been active in all 30 districts of the state since 2005-06. Four clusters were established under the National Horticulture Mission, identifying 24 districts for the development of 9 key horticultural crops. The chosen crops comprise mango, citrus fruits, litchi, and banana, along with cashew in plantation crops, ginger and turmeric in spices, and rose, marigold, and gladiolus in floriculture.
Rajya Beej Aur Krishi Vikas Nigam Limited
It is a public company established in 2004. It is engaged in cultivating crops, market gardening, and horticultural practices. The aim is to produce, procure, process, and distribute seeds, develop and manage farms, carry out research and development in seed production and processing, and install, administer, and operate processing facilities.
Fruit Orchard Development
Under this initiative, to motivate farmers to create fruit orchards on their own lands, support of up to 40-50 percent of cultivation expenses is offered to the farmers. This is a component of the National Horticulture Mission.
Institutions For Agricultural Development
Department Of Agriculture and Farmers' Empowerment
The Agriculture Department of Odisha primarily comprises three executive branches: Directorate of Agriculture, Directorate of Horticulture, and Directorate of Soil Conservation and Watershed Mission.
The Directorate of Agriculture is the longest-serving, having commenced operations in 1945 as the Directorate of Development, and later was renamed to the Directorate of Agriculture and Food Production, Odisha. The remaining two Directorates were split in the years 1977 and 1978.
Odisha State Cashew Development Corporation Limited
It was founded in 1979 to cultivate land, promote cashew farming and other appropriate species, provide technical support and help to cashew farmers, and supply quality planting materials.
Agricultural Promotion and Investment Corporation of Odisha Limited
It was created in the year 1996 as a marketing-NFG organization. It is involved in promoting agricultural businesses, including agro-based and food processing industries within the state.
It also invests in the development of captive irrigation sources in farmers' fields by setting up shallow tube wells (STWs), bore wells (BWs), dug wells, and river lift irrigation initiatives. It disburses financial aid through different programs of the State Agriculture Policy 2008 and the New Agriculture Policy of 2013. APICOL serves as the virtual office for the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA).
Odisha Agro Industries Corporation
Its goal is to promote different agricultural inputs and farming equipment via an extensive network of offices at both district and sub-district levels. It supplies farmers with inputs like fertilizers, pesticides, and feeds for cattle and poultry.
Odisha State Seeds Corporation
It has been appointed as the central agency for producing, procuring, processing, and supplying quality seeds to the farmers in the state. The OSSC has been executing the Seed Village Programme as Mo Bihana Yojana for the cultivation of credited paddy and non-paddy seeds through seed growers under different schemes aimed at producing certified seeds.
Odisha State Seed and Organic Products Certifications Agency
It carries out its specified tasks across six general stages of certification. It confirms the genetic identity of various crop types, ensures a high level of physical purity and disease resistance, and guarantees the absence of other crop seeds, weed seeds, and any specified seed-borne diseases. Since 2014, the complete procedure of seed certification has been transitioned to an online format and is carried out across the state of Odisha.
Research Institutes
The state of Odisha has established several institutions for agricultural research and development. The Central Rice Research Institute is located in Cuttack, while the Biju Patnaik Medicinal Plants Garden and Research Centre in Jeypore, along with the University of Agriculture and Technology in Bhubaneswar, are several research institutes dedicated to innovation, research, and development in new technologies.
About the Author
Shreya Giri is a talented SEO content writer with a unique flair for captivating readers. With a bachelor's degree in geography, her passion for crafting exceptional content shines through in every word she writes. Shreya's expertise lies in her ability to seamlessly blend language and storytelling, effortlessly capturing the attention of her audience.
She is pursuing a Master's degree in geography and has a remarkable talent for transforming intricate concepts into captivating narratives that have a lasting impact. With Shreya, you can expect excellent, compelling content that will keep you engaged from beginning to end.
You can connect with her through-
My-Lekh profile- https://www.my-lekh.com/profile/shreyagiri3008/profile
LinkedIn profile- https://www.linkedin.com/in/shreya-giri-a0a607265
Email- shreyagiri3008@gmail.com
Comments