Slide No. 1

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A Presentation from ASSAM In NATIONAL
CONFERENCE on AGRICULTURE for RABI CAMPAIGN
2004-05 17-18 Sept 2004
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• OVERVIEW OF AGRICULTURE IN ASSAM
• Net State Domestic Product (2002-03) 31.13
• 27 districts (25 plains 2 hill) fall under
  high potential zone for raising agricultural
  productivity.
• The cropping intensity is 154
• The Summer (Rabi) Rice is grown in an area of
  3.27 lakh ha and area under Summer Rice has shown
  an increasing trend with advancement of
  irrigation facilities through Shallow Tube Wells
  (STW).
• State has recently installed 2.2 lakh STWs under
  EAP and NABARD

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• OVERVIEW of agriculture in Assam (contd..)
• The other foodgrain crops Wheat (0.70 lakh ha),
  Pulses (1.23 lakh ha) and Maize etc. (0.20 lakh
  ha).
• The important commercial crops Oilseeds (3.99
  lakh ha), Sugarcane (0.25 lakh ha) and Jute (0.68
  lakh ha).
• Horticultural Crops occupy about 5.00 lakh ha.
• The overall growth rate of the crop production
  over the last five years stands at less than 2
  p.c.

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• ISSUES FLAGGED
• (MAJOR CONCERNS OF THE STATE)
• Recurrent floods devastated Kharif left the
  State with only dependable crop season RABI.
• The typical paradox for RABI is lack of adequate
  irrigation facilities. Only ONE-THIRD of 12 lakh
  ha of rabi area is irrigated. Thanks to 2.2 lakh
  STWs installed till now leaving the 96 of the
  ground water potential untouched in addition to
  120 inches rain induced surface water potential.
  (opportunities for increased CI in RABI).
• Without Farm Mechanization, crop intensification
  in rabi is doubtful. Needs enhanced financial
  assistance to the small and marginal farmers on
  mechanization.

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• ISSUES FLAGGED (Contd..)
• Non-availability of quality seeds within the
  State (except Paddy and Mustard). Innovative
  Interventions on seed production, processing and
  storage technologies/infrastructure focused on
  humid subtropical climate.
• Non-availability of location-specific cold
  tolerant HYV of Summer Paddy.
• Poor post harvest technology Harvesting of
  summer rice/ winter pulses coincides with
  rainfall making the process of threshing, drying
  and storage difficult unless some innovations are
  introduced.

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ISSUES FLAGGED (Contd..)

• Land degradation due to heavy deposition of sand
  caused by floods. This year alone about 25000 ha
  land affected.
• Grossly inadequate Marketing infrastructure
  Absence of agro-processing facilities make the
  farmers vulnerable to market volatility
• Additional fund of Rs. 2700 lakh is required
  under Macro Management of Agriculture 2004-05 to
  partly restore the losses due to flood.

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• CROP-WISE PERFORMANCE DURING KHARIF 2004
• ? Devastating floods affecting 11 lakh hectares
  covering Autumn Rice, Jute, Summer Rice and areas
  under transplanted Winter Rice.
• The area of Kharif rice will dip to 21 lakh ha
  from the target of 22 lakh ha. The estimated
  production slumps to 30.70 lakh MT (targeted
  34.20 lakh MT).
• So is in case of area and production of other
  Kharif foodgrain crops like Pulses and Cereals.
• The total production of Kharif foodgrains is
  estimated to be 30.94 lakh MT as against the
  production of 33.29 lakh MT during 2003-04.
• The area under important cash crops like
  Sugarcane and Jute are also adversely affected.

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Targets and likely Achievements during Kharif 2004
Crop Area (000 ha) Area (000 ha) Production (000 Tonnes / Bales) Production (000 Tonnes / Bales)
Crop Target Likely Achievement Target Likely Achievement
I. Cereals (8 down due to FLOODS) I. Cereals (8 down due to FLOODS) I. Cereals (8 down due to FLOODS) 10 down 10 down
Rice 2270 2100 3420 3070
Maize 19 16 14 12
Total Cereals 2289 2116 3434 3082
II. Pulses (40 down due to FLOODS II. Pulses (40 down due to FLOODS II. Pulses (40 down due to FLOODS 37 down 37 down
Tur (Arahar) 12 8 8 6
Urad (Moong) 21 12 11 6
Total Pulses 33 20 19 12
Total Foodgrains 2322 2136 3453 3094
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Targets and likely Achievements during Kharif
2004 (Contd..)
Crop Area (000 ha) Area (000 ha) Production (000 Tonnes / Bales) Production (000 Tonnes / Bales)
Crop Target Likely Achievement Target Likely Achievement
III. Oilseeds 9 down 9 down 7 down 7 down
Groundnut 3 3 3 3
Sesamum 15 13 8 7
Soyabean 3 3 3 3
Castor 2 2 1 1
Total Oilseeds 23 21 15 14
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Targets and likely Achievements during Kharif
2004 (Contd..)
Crop Area (000 ha) Area (000 ha) Production (000 Tonnes / Bales) Production (000 Tonnes / Bales)
Crop Target Likely Achievement Target Likely Achievement
IV. Commercial Crops 40 down 40 down 35 down 35 down
Sugarcane 35 27 1500 1100
Cotton 2 2 1 1
Subtotal 37 29 1501 1101
Jute 115 63 1150 650
Mesta 10 6 50 30
Total Jute Mesta 125 69 1200 680
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Percentage Rise () / Fall (-) in estimated Area
Production of Kharif Crops during 2004-05
Crop Area Area Production Production
Crop Over 2003-04 Over Target of 2004-05 Over 2003-04 Over Target of 2004-05
Rice - 4.98 - 7.49 - 7.17 - 10.14
Maize 0.00 - 15.79 () 9.09 - 14.29
Total Cereal - 4.49 - 7.56 - 7.11 - 10.25
Arahar 0.00 - 33.33 () 20.00 - 25.00
Moong 0.00 - 42.86 0.00 - 45.45
Total Pulses 0.00 - 39.39 () 9.09 - 36.84
Total Foodgrains - 4.86 - 8.01 - 7.06 - 10.40
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MAJOR CONSTRAINTS

• FIRST CONSTRAINT - CHRONIC FLOOD Approximately
  3 lakh hectares of crop area is subjected to
  annual flood. High and extended rainfall also
  make the management of the crop difficult. These
  factors act as deterrent to the investment on
  farming by the farmers.
• (Crop diversification (flood-evasive crops) and
  intensification in RABI).
• SECOND CONSTRAINT - SEED AVAILABILITY
• Few local seed growers/suppliers.
• Lack of appropriate storage technology and
  infrastructure for seed storage for humid
  sub-tropical climate.
• Transportation bottlenecks in seed import from
  the other states. (Seed Bank proposed by the
  ASCLtd and proposal submitted to the GOI for RS
  2.2 crores for late sowing paddy and late kharif
  blackgram)

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MAJOR CONSTRAINTS (Contd..) THIRD CONSTRAINT
SMALL LAND HOLDINGS 82 farmers are Small
Marginal farmers. Lack of capital fragmentation
of land pose serious problem in agriculture
development. (Innovations for adaptive
small-holder technologies) FOURTH CONSTRAINT
LOW FARM POWER Impediment for increase of area
under double and multiple cropping. FIFTH
CONSTRAINT SOIL ACIDITY soil reaction is
strong to extreme limiting the pulse production
some oilseeds (Phosphate management in such
soils is difficult.) (Central assistance for
correction of soil reaction along with
strengthening soil health infrastructure)
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MAJOR CONSTRAINTS (Contd..)

• SIXTH CONSTRAINT - POST HARVEST TECHNOLOGY
• harvesting of summer rice/pulses coincides with
  high rainfall
• High moisture content in grains and humid climate
  coupled with the storage pests and diseases makes
  the storage a serious problem.
• SEVENTH CONSTRAINT - MARKETING INFRASTRUCTURE
  Grossly inadequate which acts as disincentive to
  growers. Absence of agro-processing facilities
  make the farmers vulnerable to market volatility.
• EIGHTH CONSTRAINT PRODCUTION-LED EXTENSION
• Needs market-led and demand-driven Extension

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CROP PRODUCTION TARGET FOR RABI
Crop Area (000 Ha) Production (000 Tonnes)
I. Cereals
Rice 550 1210
Wheat 150 200
Maize 9 7
Small Millets 12 7
Total Cereals 721 1424
II. Pulses
Gram 6 3
Urad / Moong 78 52
Other Pulses 115 62
Total Pulses 199 117
Total Foodgrains 920 1541
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CROP PRODUCTION TARGET FOR RABI (Contd..)
Crop Area (000 Ha) Production (000 Tonnes)
III. Oilseeds
Rape Mustard 400 240
Groundnut 25 30
Sesamum 6 4
Linseed 12 7
Sunflower 15 15
Others 28 22
Total Oilseeds 486 318
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• RABI CAMPAIGN FOR 2004
• Rabi production plan for an amount of Rs. 2700
  lakh is formulated as an additional work plan
  under Macro Management of Agriculture, 2004-05.

Activities Item Proposed Fund (Rs.)
Crop Production Training 10 Nos. Training in each of 62 Sub-Divisions (50 farmers per Trg.) 31 lakhs
Farm Mechanization Distribution of 300 Power Tillers _at_ Rs. 45,000 subsidy 135 lakhs
Land Development in Sand / Silt deposited areas Mechanized removal of Sand / Silt _at_ Rs. 40,000 / Ha. for 20,000 Ha. 800 lakhs
Requirement of Pesticides Bio-pesticides / Chem. Pesticides 150 lakhs
Publicity Campaign Leaflets, Field day, Kisan Mela, etc. 90 lakhs
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Activities Physical Target (Ha.) Unit Cost (Rs. in lakh) Total Cost (Rs. in lakh) Requirement of Seed (Qtl)
Cropping Sequence Demonstration (seed in kind may be supplied by the GOI) Cropping Sequence Demonstration (seed in kind may be supplied by the GOI) Cropping Sequence Demonstration (seed in kind may be supplied by the GOI) Cropping Sequence Demonstration (seed in kind may be supplied by the GOI) Cropping Sequence Demonstration (seed in kind may be supplied by the GOI)
Wheat 10,000 0.0462 462.00 12,000
Mustard 15,000 0.03397 509.55 1,500
Lentil 7,344 0.02814 206.65 2,203
Summer Paddy 10,000 0.01968 196.80 4,000
Maize (Fodder) 2,913 0.03685 24.70 670
Area Expansion Programme Area Expansion Programme Area Expansion Programme Area Expansion Programme Area Expansion Programme
Wheat 2,833 0.01765 50.00 33,996
Lentil 257 0.04665 12.00 77
Pea 466 0.03650 17.00 280
Blackgram 357 0.04425 15.81 72
TOTAL 49,170 1494.51
GRAND TOTAL 2700.00
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Percentage Rise in estimated Area Production of
Rabi Crops during 2004-05
Crop Area Production
Crop Over 2003-04 Over 2003-04
Rice 67.68 89.06
Wheat 114.29 150.00
Maize 125.00 133.33
Small Millets 20.00 40.00
Total Cereals 75.00 95.60
Gram 100.00 50.00
Urad / Moong 47.17 92.59
Other Pulses 94.92 87.88
Total Pulses 73.04 88.71
Total Foodgrains 74.57 95.06
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• RABI CAMPAIGN FOR 2004 (Contd..)
• ? State prepared a production plan for the
  ensuing Rabi season out of Calamity Relief Fund.
  Arrangement for distribution of seed are being
  made for Paddy 6,000 qtls., Wheat 35,120 qtls.,
  Maize 1,000 qtls., Mustard 1,000 qtls., Moong
  1,000 qtls., Lentil 5,000 qtls., Pea 4,500 qtls.,
  Blackgram 5,000 qtls. and rabi vegetables 47,997
  pkts. (assorted).
• Schemes under Centrally Sponsored like TMOP,
  Macro Management are also converged in the Rabi
  campaign aiming at crop diversification
  programme.
• In view of high requirement of fertilizer during
  Rabi, prepositioning of fertilizer in different
  sale points is being made. The target for
  fertilizer consumption rate is fixed at 102 kg/ha
  during Rabi.

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• RABI CAMPAIGN FOR 2004 (Contd..)
• An intensive plant protection measures is being
  adopted through integrated pest management
  programme.
• Short term crop loan through Kishan Credit Card
  will be augmented. The target for KCC is kept at
  1 lakh in the current year.
• More nos. of farmers will be brought under the
  ambit of National Agricultural Insurance Scheme
  in Rabi.
• Under Macro Management, farm machineries like
  Zero Tillage Planter, Self Propelled Reaper are
  also being demonstrated in the pursuit of
  agricultural mechanization in the current year.

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• STRATEGIES
• To increase productivity of Summer Rice -
• Increase in use of HYV to the extent of 70 p.c.
• Increase in fertilizer consumption to 70 kg/ha.
• The area under assured irrigation will be fully
  utilized. The target for Summer Rice is kept at
  4.00 lakh hectares.
• Adoption of Intensive IPM INM.
• To increase productivity of Wheat -
• ? Use of zero tillage after the harvest of Winter
  Paddy for timely sowing of seeds.
• Timely irrigation in Wheat during vegetative
  stage.
• Increase the use of fertilizer in Wheat.
• Introduction of mechanization in harvesting and
  post harvesting stage.

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• STRATEGIES (Contd..)
• 3. To increase production of Pulses -
• Increase of area under Rabi pulses to 1.99 lakh
  hectares including the areas under riverine
  tracts.
• Adoption of improved seeds and bio-fertilizers.
• Increase of productivity from the present level
  of 550 kg/ha to 660 kg/ha.
• Use of soil ameliorant in problematic area.
• To increase production of Oilseeds
• ? Expansion of area in monocropped Winter Paddy
  land.
• Expansion of areas of non-traditional oilseeds
  like Groundnut Sunflower.
• Replacement of old varieties with HYV.
• Increase in fertilizer consumption.
• Use of Sprinkler Irrigation in specific areas.

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• SUCCES STORY / NEW INTERVENTIONS
• SHALLOW TUBE WELLS
• ORGANIC AROMATIC RICE
• Organically produced Joha rice and exported 24 MT
  with help of APEDA planned expansion.
• production of vermicompost and bio-dynamic
  preparation for compost making has already
  achieved last year.
• BIOLOGICAL PEST CONTROL
• Tricho Card against Brinjal shoot fruit borer
  was successfully applied by the farmers in
  Cachar, Kamrup and Nagaon districts.
• State Bio-control Laboratory has produced 22
  million Tricho Card during 2003-04.

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