After the completion of Kharif crop, farmers have started preparations for summer crop. This time the Agriculture Department has estimated the sowing of summer crops in 38913 hectare area. In comparison to wheat and maize, this time the pulses are being encouraged for the cultivation of gram, moong, peas, urad and arhar.
Due to increase in support price of paddy, the yield of pulses and oilseeds in Kharif has decreased by 30 percent. To compensate for this, the District Agriculture Department has increased the area of both the crops this time compared to last year. Last year, pigeon pea, tivara and moong were planted in 6,690 hectares. This year, the target of sowing has been set in 7,823 hectares.
Against the target, sowing has been done in 3267 hectares. The construction of Amrit Sarovar has increased the irrigated area in more than 100 gram panchayats. Farmers are being motivated to cultivate pulses by identifying irrigated places. The special thing is that due to this heavy rainfall, moisture remains in the fields even after the crop is ripe. Among the pulse species, farmers have sown Tivara in large numbers.
The area provided free seeds by the District Agriculture Department has increased by 932 hectares. It is estimated that the production of pulses crops instead of grains will increase in Rabi. Wheat is sown as the cold increases. Due to paddy crop not being completely ready in the fields, harvesting has not picked up pace. Paddy harvesting will be completed within a fortnight, only after this the sowing of wheat will accelerate. So far sowing has been done in 52 hectares. This time an area of 2,170 hectares has been fixed for maize sowing.
Lentil will be displayed in 367 acres area
To strengthen the position of farmers in pulses farming, they are being linked to lentil farming. Demonstration farming will be done in 367 acres of land in the district. An equal number of selected farmers will be provided free seeds. Farmers will be identified for farming starting from the month of November. Farmers are being selected on the basis of irrigation and fencing facilities in agricultural land.
Nutrition gets a boost
Sowing of pulses and oilseeds opens up nutritional options. Its price is higher than summer paddy. From the point of view of agricultural science, the production of these crops not only supplies proteins and vitamins to the body, but also by changing the crop rotation in the fields, i.e. by preparing pulses instead of paddy, better yield is obtained.
Summer paddy area reduced to zero
To motivate the farmers to get a good crop with less water, the District Agriculture Department has reduced the area under paddy to zero in Rabi this time too. This time 2170 hectares of area has been earmarked for sowing of maize in the district, while 1940 hectares of area has been earmarked for wheat. Fertilizer and seeds are being provided as per the prescribed area. Compared to last year, the area of both the crops has been increased by 500 hectares each.
Sowing status in Rabi crop (in hectares)
crop target progress
wheat 1940 52
corn 2170 2
Pulses 7,823 2,654
vegetable 21300 2342
