From: Press Information Bureau Ministry of I&B <pib.kolkata@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, Jul 8, 2010 at 3:45 PM
Subject: Local Release.........1
Press Information Bureau
Government of India
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POTENTIAL OF EASTERN INDIA FOR ENHANCING AGRICULTURE PRODUCTION
Kolkata: July 8, 2010
There has been considerable increase in production and productivity of food grain and other crops since independence. Foodgrains production increased from 97.32 million tons in 1950-51 to 233.88 million tons during 2008-09 with increase in productivity from 522 kg/ha to 1898 kg/ha in the corresponding period. This spectcular increase has ensured the food security in the country.
The states of Haryana, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh known as 'Food Bowl of India' produced 36.49% of the total foodgrains from 24.06% of area during 2007-08. The productivity of foodgrains in these three states is 2817 kg/ha which is 66% more than the national average of 1860 kg/ha.
The ground water utilization ranges from 70% in Uttar Pradesh to 109% in Haryana and 145% in Punjab leading to a sharp decline in the ground water levels. Predominant contribution of Haryana and Punjab to the food security is not sustainable in the long range.
In order to reduce the over exploitation of the natural resources in north west region, the resource rich high rainfall areas of Eastern India comprising Eastern Uttar pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattishgarh, West Bengal and Orissa should be promoted for enhancing agriculture production. Eastern India with 2-3 times more rainfall compared to the North West States, unexploited good quality ground water aquifers, and vast resources of social capital have relative advantage for sustainable production of crops like rice, banana, sugarcane and aquaculture.
Managing about 12 million ha of land remakning fallow after paddy harvest, high productivity of winter maize and Boro rice are very attractive opportunities in Eastern India.
To harness the potential of Eastrn India, Union Budger 2010 allocated additional Rs.400 crores under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana for extending green revolution to the Eastern Region of the country. The objective is to increse the crop productivity by intensive cultuvation through promotion of recommended agriculture technologies and package of practices. A premilinary meeting with the State Agriculture secretaries / Directors of Agriculture of Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattishgarh, Orissa, UP and West Bengal was held on 18th March, 2010 during the National Kharif Conference at New Delhi. Each state would prepare strategic plan prioritizing the key areas in terms of technology promotion for addressing the main constraints that were impending he agriculture productivity despite there being a good potential for development.
An expert group was constituted drawing members from policy, development, research drawn from different Ministries to review the state strategic plans. Tentative allocations were made to the states based on the rice area in the states. States have finalised the strategic plans after incorporating the recommended changes in the strategy plans. Meanwhile, fifty per cent of the allocation is already released to the states for implementing the strategic plans from Kharif season.
sc/dk/kol/15:21 hrs.
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Palash Biswas
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