1. NATIONAL CONFERENCE ON AGRICULTURE FOR KHARIF CAMPAIGN - 2014
Strategy for Enhancement of Crop Production
Presented By
Shri. Dominic. S. Lyngdoh
Jt. Director (R & T)
Directorate of Agriculture
Meghalaya, Shillong

3. MEGHALAYA - Basic Facts
Location : between 25° 1’ and 26° 5’ North Latitude and 85° 49’ and 92° 52’ East Longitude.
Area = 22,429 sq km
Altitude = 300 M to 2000 M above MSL
Temperature range = 2 to 36 degrees Celsius.
Rainfall = 12,000 mm annual average.
Population = 29,06,069 (2011 census)
No. of districts = 11
No. of C&RD Blocks= 39

4. STATE’S AGRICULTURAL PROFILE
Geographical area: 22,429 sq. km.
Population: lakh (approximately)
Total cropped area: 3.37 lakh hectares
Major crops: Paddy, Maize, Potato, Vegetables.
Major Fruit crops: Pineapple, Orange, Banana, Pears, Plums, Peaches, Strawberries.
Spices: Ginger, Turmeric, Chillies Black pepper and Pepper long.
Plantation crops: Arecanut, Tea, Cashew nut

5. KHARIF PRODUCTION PROSPECTS
The State target of
area and production
of foodgrains during
Kharif 2014 has been
estimated at
Ha. and Metric
Tonnes, respectively.
The likely achievement was estimated at Ha and Metric Tonnes respectively.

6. Kharif Oilseeds and Commercial Crops:
The target for Kharif Oilseeds (Soyabean) was fixed at 1712 Ha. and Production at 3325 Metric Tonnes.
For Commercial Crops, the target of Area & Production was fixed Ha. and Metric Tonnes, respectively.

7. Kharif Rice:
Kharif Rice in Meghalaya is grown in all the Districts of the State.
The estimated Area and Production of Kharif
Rice are Ha
and Metric
Tonnes.

8. Maize:
It is proposed that during the current Kharif 2014 season more thrust is given to the cultivation of Kharif Maize in the existing command areas as well as in rainfed areas.
The target of Area and Production for Kharif Maize 2014 has been fixed at Ha and Metric Tonnes.

9. Kharif Pulses:
The target area of Kharif Pulses (Tur/Arhar) for 2014 has been fixed at 1148 Ha.
Whereas Production Target would be at 1465 Metric Tonnes.

10. Kharif Oilseeds:
The target of Area & Production of Kharif Oilseeds (Soyabean) has been fixed at 1712 Ha and 3325 Metric Tonnes respectively which is grown in all the Areas of the State.

11. LIST OF MOST SUITABLE VARIETIES OF MAJOR CROP
Sl No.
Crops
Altitude
Varieties 1
Paddy
High
Megh 1, Megh 2, Megh 3
Mid & Low
HY: 6444, Loknath- 505 & 555, SPH- 115,
KRH- 2 HYV: Pantdhan- 12, Ranjeet, MTU-1010,
MTU- 7029, IR- 64, IR-36, Pankaj, Naveen, Gomati
Improved variety: Bhalum 1, 2 & 3,
Lampnah, Shahsarang 2
Maize
Local yellow & Local white, vijay composite, and hybrids.
HY: Big Boss, Navjot, All rounder
HYV: Vijay composite, 3
Soyabean
High, Mid & Low
JS- 335, Bragg

12. Contd… 4 Rape seed Mid & Low M-27 5 Jute Low JBO-2003 6 Wheat Sonalika
Black gram
T-9 8
Green gram
K- 851 9
Arhar
ICPL-87 10
Lentil
Aruna 11
Bengal gram
A- 1 12
Pea
High
Azad T- 1 (Kashmir), Pea imported (Sultan & National Seed Company), Cheerapunji (Local)
Rachna

13. BEST PRACTICES:
Adoption of SRI, increasing yield by three fold of the conventional method
Adoption of Hybrid, High yielding and local improved varieties resulting in higher yield
Complete Package of practices including IPM, INM.
Capacity building of officers and stakeholders
Adoption of mechanisation
Water management
Post harvest management
Expert advice to farmers through Intelligent Advisory System for Farmers (IASF)

14. Area Cover (In Lakh Hectares )
Area Under Crops
Sl.No
Name of the Crop
Area Cover (In Lakh Hectares )
Kharif 2011
Kharif 2012
Kharif 2013
Kharif 2014(Est) 1
Rice
95.488
96.039
96.484
96.589 2
Maize
13.820
13.848
14.411
14.420 3
Pulses (Tur)
0.779
0.788
1.136
1.141 4
Oilseeds (Soybean)
1.078
1.098
1.589
1.649 5
Cotton
6.816
6.871
7.250
7.275 6
Jute
3.881
3.889
6.380
6.500 7
Mesta
4.122
4.125
4.435
4.475
Total for the State

15. Proforma 4 (a) Total Requirement of N,P,K Nutrients
Name of State: Meghalaya
In Metric Tonnes
Sl.No.
State
Consumption in terms of N,P,K nutrients
Recommended Dose for the District
Total Requirement of N,P,K Nutrients for Kharif – 2014.
Kharif 2011
Kharif 2012
Kharif 2013 N P K 1.
Meghalaya
1778
680
150
1948
726
199
2002
674
209
Recommended Dose for the District is based on the Soil Testing Report/ Soil Health Card Report for the Different Crops
1730
835
330
TOTAL

16. Group I STRATEGIES FOR KHARIF PRODUCTION
Advanced preparation of seed rolling plan
Ensure availability of
Quality seed for each season
Formulate programme of identifying genuine growers
Training farmers to the registered growers in each a district of the state for seed production
Maintenance of seed purity and quality through regular monitoring and evaluation
Seed bank to be set up in cluster villages
State seed certification agency be set up in the state
Construction of more number of seed go-downs under seed village programme
State seed farm in different agro-climatic zone of the state be established

17. Re-orient extension activities to be more demand-driven
Contd…
Implement multi-locational trials to assess suitability of advanced breeding lines and currently available varieties
Develop linkages with breeding stations to source breeding materials and advanced lines
Identify landraces with desirable traits and collect germplasm of such landraces
Evolve improved nursery management techniques for local soil types and weather conditions
Conduct improved land preparation methods and treatment of problem soils
Implement site-specific nutrient management instead of blanket recommendations
Promote use of appropriate agricultural machineries and mechanical devices
Implement suitable seed storage-community drying facilities, hermetically sealed containers
Re-orient extension activities to be more demand-driven
-target location-specific rice ecosystems

18. Contd…
Seed testing laboratory to be set up in each district of the state
Seed testing to be conducted in seed testing laboratory to ensure germination before distribution to the farmers
Post harvest drying, packaging and labelling of seeds imperative
Conduct PVS (Participatory Varietal Selection) to identify and disseminate farmer-preferred varieties
Introduce agri-clinics and agri-business centres
Facilitate rapid spread of quality seeds of improved/hybrid varieties among farmers through
i. Demonstration of programmes in cluster area
ii. Dissemination of information through multimedia of availability of quality seeds to farmers

19. The Kharif Production Campaign will be launched shortly during April 2014 in all the 39 Community and Rural Development Blocks of the State
Wide Publicity would also be given for wide coverage through regular Radio Talks, Live Phone-in programme, Doordarshan Kendra Awareness programme
Distribution of pamphlets on Kharif Crops/Kharif Cultivation
Farmers Training through Farmers Training Centres and Farmers Training Institutes

20. Group I: NATIONAL FOOD SECURITY MISSION.
STRATEGIES:
Mission made by involving stakeholders
Extension of improved technologies and interventions
a) INM
b) IPM
c) Soil amendments
d) Capacity building
3) Resource conservation
4) Addressing to local situations
5) Monitoring.

21. Group I NATIONAL FOOD SECURITY MISSION.
INTERVENTIONS:
Demonstration
a)HYV
b)Hybrid
c)Improved Local variety.
2. Seed Distribution
3. Plant Protection and Soil Management
4. Resource Conservation Technique/ tools
5. Machineries Pump Sets
a)Conoweeder,
b)Other Farm Implements
6. Miscellaneous Expenses
a)Project Management Team
i)Consultants
ii)Technical Assistant
iii)Senior Technical Assistant

22. Adoption of Improved Technology for Efficient use of Water
State receives maximum rains
Interventions to tap and conserve run off water for uses during dry spell by small adequate rain water harvesting structures to be used during winter and dry spells for the cultivation of boro paddy and winter vegetables such as
a)Check dams
b)Sluice gates
c)Diversion Channels
d)Dug outs
e)Surface water pumping
3. Utilize potential ground water by means of shallow tube wells
4) To mitigate havoc of flooding water
To tap potential water available from all sources which is still underutilized.
To sustain farming in specific pockets than massive structures which are more helpful for small and marginal farmer.s

23. INM Adoption of Improved Technology for Efficient use of Nutrients
Soil Test Based Agro climatic zone and package of practices for all crops.
Use of complex and customized fertilizers yet to be adopted by farmers of the State.
Farmers prefer straight fertilizers.
Use of Organic Manure and natural composting in the State has been a practice by tradition rather than default.
Bio-fertilizers are being promoted in most crops through chemical fertilizers are used in cash crops like potato, tomato, paddy, etc.
State is rich in nitrogen, low in phosphorous and medium low in potash.
Issue of Soil health cards totaling manual till date and 2000 online.

24. Sale points=120 Nos, Dept., Cooperative, and private.
Adoption of Improved Technology for Efficient use of Plant Protection Chemicals
The demand/ consumption of pesticides during the kharif 2014 was discussed during the zonal kharif conference for North-East Zone.
Insecticides like Chloropyriphos, Quinalphos, Dimethoate, Carbofuran,Monocrotophos,Phosalone, synthetic Pyrethroids and Fungicides e.g. Carbendazim Mancozeb etc.
Sale points=120 Nos, Dept., Cooperative, and private.
Regional Pesticide Testing Lab= 1 no.
Biological Control labs=2 nos. ( Trichogramma and Trichoderma )
Judicious use of Pesticides i.e. need base.

25. IPM:
Pest surveillance and advisory reports as communicated by Indian Council for Agricultural Research (ICAR).
IPM awareness and regular training by FTI’s.
Two- Biological control labs in the State producing Trichogramma and Trichoderma.
Promotion of bio control agents and bio-cides.
Adoption of all IPM techniques.

26. Other adoptable Technologies developed and recommended:
System of Rice Intensification
The Technology is being adopted in the high attitude during Kharif and mostly Boro paddy in low altitude areas by making use of available moisture from reservoir, Check dams, dug outs, surface flow and shallow tube wells.
The system is being promoted through RKVY,NFSM and other State plan schemes.

27. Strategy for Contingency plan in the event of aberrant South West Monsoon.
Rainfall being erratic.
Flash floods are common.
Hail storm during April.
Submergence of paddy is common in low lying areas water stress and late precipitation in certain years.
Contingency plan will be prepared.
There has not been any drought but only short dry spells.
In case of prolonged submergence alternate crops such as pulses & vegetables are grown. Seeds and other inputs are in place.
STRATEGIES
Conservation Agriculture through Water harvesting structures like Check dams, surface water pumping, shallow tube wells, dug outs and other irrigation means.
Availability of Seeds and other inputs to be put in place.
Machineries for land preparation seed drills etc.
Diversification and changing of the cropping pattern.

28. Crop & Weather Scenario
The Kharif crop calendar i.e. from April to September 2012, began with delayed onset of Monsoon and comparatively less rain from April to July in some areas of the State thereby affecting the agronomic activities of the Kharif crops however onwards from July end the weather condition for the crops improved and generally normal except in parts of the State affected by landslide and flash flood. Sowing, planting, broadcasting and transplanting of paddy, tuber crops, vegetables, maize, paddy, horticultural crops and other kharif crops was normal. In some areas due to erractic rainfall in rainfed paddy field sowing and transplanting of paddy crop was delayed. However, the prospect of monsoon rains in August was encouraging and the crop particularly Sali paddy appears to be doing well with ample moisture in the initial stages of crop growth. It is hope that with no further heavy rain as in the previous year.

29. Marketing intervention to ensure renumerative prices of pulses, oilseeds & Coarse Cereal grain.
No. pulses production in adequate quantity. We have intra export. Hence no market constraint.
Oilseeds
Soyabean- High demand but less production. No market constraint only local soyabean grown in few packets of the State and that is utilized in preparing local fermented chutney.
3. Mustard
Oil produced in small quantity and is being processed locally and is sold within the State and of high demand. No market constraint.
4. Coarse Cereal Grains
Maize grown only as Kharif maize and in small quantity, nut demand is high for Cattle feed. Hence it is intra import but demand is high especially with the implementation of the IBDLP.
5. Rice
Inadequate to feed the Sates. Hence, intra import and consequently no market constraint.

30. T h a n k Y o u