NATIONAL CONFERENCE on AGRICULTURE KHARIF CAMPAIGN : th & 7 th March, 2013 Strategy for Kharif, 2013 : Assam’s Perspectives..

ASSAM AGRICULTURE – General Profile Net Cropped Area28.11 lakh hectare (36 p.c. of Geographical Area) Cropping Intensity148% Area covered by Horticultural Crops6.08 lakh hectares (14.6% of Gross Cropped Area) Rice area covered by HYV17.0 lakh hectare (67% of total Rice area) Area under Hybrid Rice0.97 lakh hectare (3.6% of total Rice area) Flood Prone area4.93 Lakh Ha. Availability of Farm Power1.02 HP per hectare Irrigated area (utilisable)8.43 lakh hectare (30% of Net Cropped Area) Consumption of fertiliser76.5 Kg. per hectare No. of Small & Marginal holding23.44 lakh (85.3% of total holdings)

SeasonRainfall (in mm) Departure from Normal Pattern NormalActual Kharif, (-) 2%Normal Rabi, (till 28 th February, 2013) (-) 21%Deficient Total : (-) 4%Normal THE WEATHER SCENARIO Rainfall during  Flood occurred in the month of June and September due to excessive rainfall during most part of Kharif,  These two waves of devastating flood caused serious damage to standing Kharif crops, mainly Winter paddy and other crops. Crop area of 5.30 lakh hectares belonging to lakh farm families of 9814 villages were affected due to flood.

ASSESSMENT OF RABI, AREA, PRODUCTION & YIELD OF RABI CROPS (anticipated) (Area in lakh ha., Production in lakh MT & Yield in Kg. per ha.) Sl. No.CropAreaProductionYield 1.Summer / Boro Rice Wheat Rabi Maize Rabi Pulses Rabi Foodgrains Rabi Oilseeds Potato Rabi Vegetables Additional area coverage & production during over CropAdditional areaAdditional Production Summer / Boro Rice1.02 lakh ha.3.50 lakh MT Rabi Pulses0.38 lakh ha.0.25 lakh MT Rabi Oilseeds0.50 lakh ha.0.65 lakh MT

KHARIF PROSPECT AREA, PRODUCTION & YIELD OF KHARIF CROPS (Area in lakh ha., Production in lakh MT, Yield in Kg. per ha.) Crop YearAreaProductionYield Autumn Rice 2012 (anticipated) (target) Winter Rice 2012 (anticipated) (target) Kharif Pulses 2012 (anticipated) (target) Kharif Oilseeds 2012 (anticipated) (target) Jute 2012 (anticipated) (target) Sugarcane 2012 (anticipated) (target) Kharif Maize 2012 (anticipated) (target) Kharif Vegetables 2012 (anticipated) (target)

STRATEGY FOR KHARIF,  More focus on Rice. Additional production of 4.35 lakh MT of Kharif Rice is targeted through increase of 0.65 lakh ha.  More coverage of area under HYV and Hybrid Rice. At present 67% and 3.6% area of Rice is covered under HYV and Hybrid respectively.  Extensive coverage of traditional flood prone area through resistant varieties like Swarna Sub-1. An area of 70,500 is targeted through free distribution of seeds.  Proper time of sowing and Early maturing Rice varieties are to be encouraged more to allow farmers to go for double cropping in these areas mainly with Potato & Mustard.  Additional area coverage of 0.29 lakh hectares under Kharif Pulse & Oilseeds with increased productivity.  Kharif Maize cultivation in some potential cultivation pockets mainly in hilly tracts is to be encouraged with necessary seed replacement. At present only 15,000 hectares is under the crop with 9% SRR.

STRATEGY FOR KHARIF,  Requirement of quality Paddy and Blackgram seeds during Kharif, 2013 will be met from State’s own production. Programme has been chalked out to procure seeds of other crops from outside sources.  Horizontal expansion of Jute & Sugarcane is very limited. Therefore, stress will be given to increase productivity through distribution of suitable quality planting materials/ seeds.  Community nurseries will provide requirement of Paddy seedlings in the event of occurrence of flood. Farmers of flood prone areas are being motivated for community nurseries.  Action has been initiated to ensure availability of fertilisers in remote / rural areas to avoid last minute scarcity.  Full utilization of 5.4 lakh hectares of assured irrigation area created by 2.70 lakh operational pump sets.

Contingency Plan, : Relief measures for flood affected farmers (under State Plan) Kharif, 2012 :  The State Government has taken up compensatory programmes like raising of community nurseries, free distribution of paddy seeds / seedlings, assorted vegetable seeds, etc. to 2.46 lakh flood affected farm families.  As a result of immediate measures taken by the Government the farmers could re-transplant the Sali Paddy seedlings in the affected fields, which have been converted to a very good prospect of Kharif Rice production in the State during Rabi :  Free tractorization in 9200 hectares benefiting farm families.  Free distribution of Rape & Mustard seeds & crop booster : 4260 quintals of Mustard seeds distributed covering hectares benefiting 1.16 lakh farmers.  Crop booster for 24,609 hectares of Mustard cultivation distributed.  55,322 quintals Fertilisers (Urea, SSP & MOP) distributed covering 14,500 hectares of Mustard area.

Objective : 1. To overcome the challenge that may arise due to occurrence of Flood 2. To compensate the probable loss of flood affected farmers 3. To maintain the level of production No. of phases Probable period of occurrence Proposed strategy 1 st Phase Mid April to June * Buffer stocking of Paddy seed * Awareness 2 nd Phase July to Mid August * Distribution of seedlings available at farmers level to needy farmers. * Raising of Paddy seedlings in community nurseries, Govt. farms, community land & farmers field etc. * Distribution of direct seeded short duration paddy variety and blackgram seed. 3 rd Phase Mid August to September a.Tractorization b.Distribution of Rabi seed and summer paddy seed. Contingency Plan for Disaster Management ( )

Constraints of Agriculture Sector in Assam 1.Occurrence of floods 2.Very small per capita land holdings, only 1.11 hectare. 3.Lack of adequate assured irrigation facility, only 30% at present. 4.Credit support not up to expectation of Farmers, only 30% farmers covered so far. 5.Lack of marketing infrastructures and non-receipt of remunerative price by farmers for their produce.

1.Emphasis on rain water harvesting, watershed development, utilization of ground water and surface water through low cost equipments. 2.Availability of high quality seeds of High Yielding Varieties and Hybrids through institutional mechanism. 3.Promotion of minimum tillage or zero tillage practices. 4.Encouraging SRI technology especially in Summer Rice. 5.Enhancement of farm power through low cost but improved agricultural machine and implements. 6.Application of lime in acidic soils, application of nutrients in deficient soils for improving soil health. 7.Strengthening Extension System. 8.Prioritizing Improvement of post harvesting facilities like storage system, rural road infrastructure, processing facilities and linkage with industry etc. 9.Enhancement of flow of institutional credit to farmers. 10.Providing assistance for adoption of better technologies and practices. SUGGESTIONS & ACTIONS

a. The scheme has been implemented in the State since b. Out of Rs crore for BGREI, , Rs crore released by GOI as 1 st installment which has been utilized fully against Winter Rice Demonstration covering 56,700 hectares and installation of 4000 STWs and 2522 LLPs. c. GOI has recently released the 2 nd installment (February, 2013) of Rs crore which is being utilized for constructing 68 nos. covered Threshing Floors, 140 Water Harvesting Structures. d. Action has already been taken for Winter Rice Demonstrations in 34,000 hectares during ensuing Kharif. e. The amount released during last 2 years has been utilized fully and UC has also been submitted. f. The UC for Rs crore released as 1 st installment in has also been submitted to GOI. BGREI

Impact a. Implementation of BGREI is one of the main contributing factors towards remarkable increase in production & productivity of Rice in the State. b. Through Rice demonstration of BGREI, farmers are motivated towards adoption of mechanization, use of irrigation in Paddy cultivation resulting the growth of agro-service centre in rural areas providing self employment. c. Use of Hybrid Paddy Variety mainly in Summer Rice is widely accepted by farmers which is the result of Hybrid Paddy Demonstration taken under BGREI. BGREI

a. Making availability of good quality seeds. b. Popularization of new varieties of Jute viz., Tarun through distribution of Seed Minikit to farmers. c. Production of Foundation Seeds is not taken under JTM as the same is to be implemented from RKVY scheme. d. Implements like Wheel Hoe and Sprayers will be distributed at subsidized rate. e. Creation of Retting Facilities for quality fibre production. f. Transfer of Latest Technology to farmers. g. IPM concept will be disseminated through FFS. Jute Technology Mission (JTM) Strategy for 2013

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