[Assam] Agricultural production in Asom

[Pradip Kumar Datta]

EDITORIAL  Assam Tribune
  
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  Agricultural production in Asom
— K K SenAsom is basically an agararian State as approximately 70 per cent of its population earn their livelihood from the primary sector comprising agriculture and allied activities which contribute nearly 39 per cent to the Net State Domestic Product (NSDP) at current prices. As revealed from an advance estimate per capita income of the State is Rs 14,523 in 2005-06 at current prices against all India average of Rs 25,788. The Technology Mission on Integrated Development of Horticulture provided a major impetus in this direction. Prior to the launch of the Mission i.e. before 2001-02, per capita income of the State was Rs 11,647. After the Mission it reached the level of Rs 12,827 and Rs 13,633 in 2003-04 and 2004-05 respectively and finally Rs 14,523 in 2005-06 with an increase of 25 per cent within a period of 5 years. Production of fruits also went up by 1.2 per cent, spices by 6.67 per cent, vegetables by 30.11 per cent during post-Mission period.

With a view to boost per capita income much emphasis has been laid on agriculture through improved farm mechanisation, use of quality certified seed of HYV, popularisation of Integrated Nutrient and Pest Management with special focus on the use of bio-fertiliser and bio-pesticides. Production of Kharif rice declined to the level of 2.86 lakh MT in 2004-05 from 4.87 lakh MT in 2001-02 in case of autumn rice and from 27.13 lakh MT to 25.74 lakh MT in respect of winter rice. However, the production of autumn rice recent up to the tune of 3.99 lakh MT and 1.17 kg/hectare respectively in the year 2005-06 resulting in an increase of 39.5 pc and 5.2 pc respectively. The overall production of rice is recorded to be 35.54 lakh MT in 2005-06 as against 38.54 lakh MT of 2001-02 and 34.71 lakh MT of 2004-05 resulting to a diminution to the magnitude of 8 per cent as compared to 2001-02 and alleviation to the tune of 2.4 per cent in contrast to the output of 2004-05. It is also revealed
 that production of rice of the State contributes nearly 5 per cent to national production (727 lakh MT) scenario.

The State has much potentiality contributing a lion’s share in the national granary but it lost the opportunity due to the occurrence of perennial natural calamities, like flood or drought. An estimate shows that though there was a negative growth rate (-2.3%) of production of rice during the last 5 years, the prospect of Rabi crops this year is expected to be bright as the cultivators have been much enthusiastic to compensate their losses in Kharif crops through the coverage of more areas during the Ravi season. Of late much stress is laid on diversification on crop with an aim of switching over to summer paddy, pulses and oilseeds because of decrease in area and productivity of Kharif crops due to drought like situation. The area and production under summer rice, which was once a source of green revolution though increased significantly to the level of 3.29 lakh hectares and 2068 kg per hectare in the 2000-01 due to the installation of shallow tube wells under World Bank
 aided project of ARIASP, the production is declining gradually and finally halted to the bottom of 3.14 lakh hectares and 1780 kg per hectare respectively in 2005-06 resulting to 9 per cent decrease in yield rate as compared to the year 2000-01. Wheat, another important cereal is also going to create a niche in cereal map of the State. Though it failed to obtain a priority level so far due to unfavourable climatic condition much emphasis is now being laid for a sound coverage under the crop due to failure of crop productivity during Kharif season which resulted in an increase of yield rate to the tune of 1076 kg per hectare in 2005-06 from the level of 1066 kg per hectare in 2004-05, though it exhibits a declining trend from 1181 kg per hectare to 1046 kg per hectare during 2001-02 to 2003-04. 

So far as the production of pulse is concerned it depicted a peculiar fluctuating behaviour beginning with 72.13 thousand tonnes in 2001-02, then declined to 66.01 thousand tones in 2002-03 and increased to the tune of 68.86 thousand tonnes in 2003-04 and again lowered to 65.51 thousand tonnes in 2004-05. The growth rate of its production for the last 5 years is estimated as -1.2 per cent which is much discouraging. As regard oilseed production despite a little increase during 2001-02 and 2002-03 raising it to the level of 1.88 lakh MT and 1.90 lakh MT respectively from 1.86 lakh MT in 2000-01, it gradually encountered a severe jolt in 2003-04 and 2004-05 as it declined to 1.60 lakh MT and 1.50 lakh MT respectively. The growth rate of its production for the last 5 years is assessed as -5.70 per cent. Lack of optimum rainfall as desired during flowering to maturity stage is mainly responsible for low level production of both pulses and oilseeds during different periods. Due
 to shortfall in production of rice, pulses and oilseeds cultivators mainly switched over to the horticultural crops, specially to vegetables. 

Cash crops like jute whose productivity has been increasing since 2000-01 to 2003-04 from the level of 1730 kg per hectare to 1870 kg per hectare, suddenly reflected a gloomy scenario in 2004-05 as it sharply came down to 1274 kg per hectare. However, 2005-06 was a momentous year for production of this cash crop as productivity this year augmented to the magnitude of 1855 kg per hectare resulting in an increase of 46 per cent over the previous year. The area, production and productivity of sugarcane have been exhibiting a downward trend during the last 5 years (since 2001-02 to 2005-06). The area came down to 23.43 thousand hectares in 2005-06 from 27.16 thousand hectares in 2001-02. Similarly productivity also came down to 36.9 thousand kg per hectare from 37.2 thousand kg per hectare during the same period.
(The writer is Joint Director of Agriculture).
 
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