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Tech helps Bihar overcome deficient rain
Although Bihar experienced a deficit of 29 per cent in monsoon rains, the food grain stocks were not likely to go down as much as was initially feared as the adoption of new technology like SRI (System of Rice Intensification) and intensive agriculture extension work are going to prevent any significant fall in the production of crops like paddy and maize.
The State Government introduced the SRI method of sowing a few years ago and it is now going to help the State check any significant drop in food grain stocks. SRI cultivation helps reduce water consumption by 30 per cent and increases productivity by 20 per cent.
State Agriculture Secretary N Vijayalaksmi told The Pioneer that the SRI method of sowing was adopted during this kharif season on an area of nearly seven lakh hectares and the results had been quite encouraging. The State has reported sowing of crops over 31,64,746 hectares so far, covering 91 per cent of the total area.
The sowing of paddy crops in the State last year was 95 per cent of the target as the monsoon was comparatively more active in 2011. Sowing of maize crops was done over an area of 4,00,586 hectares against the targeted area of 4,25,000 hectares, thus meeting the target up to 94.3 per cent.
The average sowing of paddy and maize crops was 67 per cent of the target in 2010 when the monsoon was comparatively better with the recording of 648 mm of rain while the average sowing of these two crops stood at 91 per cent of the fixed target in 2012 when the State recorded a rainfall of 620 mm.
The Agriculture Secretary said that the Government has prepared a comprehensive agriculture road map, a vision document outlining various aspects of macro and micro planning in various sectors such as agriculture, horticulture, animal husbandry and dairy and fixing target for the next five years.
President Pranab Mukherjee will release the agricultural road map during his maiden tour here from October 3. Vijayalakhmi said that the growth in the agriculture sector was made possible because of growing confidence among farmers due to various factors like availability of the agriculture credit and also new technology.
Although Bihar experienced a deficit of 29 per cent in monsoon rains, the food grain stocks were not likely to go down as much as was initially feared as the adoption of new technology like SRI (System of Rice Intensification) and intensive agriculture extension work are going to prevent any significant fall in the production of crops like paddy and maize.
The State Government introduced the SRI method of sowing a few years ago and it is now going to help the State check any significant drop in food grain stocks. SRI cultivation helps reduce water consumption by 30 per cent and increases productivity by 20 per cent.
State Agriculture Secretary N Vijayalaksmi told The Pioneer that the SRI method of sowing was adopted during this kharif season on an area of nearly seven lakh hectares and the results had been quite encouraging. The State has reported sowing of crops over 31,64,746 hectares so far, covering 91 per cent of the total area.
The sowing of paddy crops in the State last year was 95 per cent of the target as the monsoon was comparatively more active in 2011. Sowing of maize crops was done over an area of 4,00,586 hectares against the targeted area of 4,25,000 hectares, thus meeting the target up to 94.3 per cent.
The average sowing of paddy and maize crops was 67 per cent of the target in 2010 when the monsoon was comparatively better with the recording of 648 mm of rain while the average sowing of these two crops stood at 91 per cent of the fixed target in 2012 when the State recorded a rainfall of 620 mm.
The Agriculture Secretary said that the Government has prepared a comprehensive agriculture road map, a vision document outlining various aspects of macro and micro planning in various sectors such as agriculture, horticulture, animal husbandry and dairy and fixing target for the next five years.
President Pranab Mukherjee will release the agricultural road map during his maiden tour here from October 3. Vijayalakhmi said that the growth in the agriculture sector was made possible because of growing confidence among farmers due to various factors like availability of the agriculture credit and also new technology.
