UP sets ambitious target for Rabi crop

Lucknow, Oct 5 (UNI) Despite deficient rainfall during the just ended monsoon, Uttar Pradesh has formulated a multi-pronged strategy for achieving an ambitious goal of four per cent growth in total foodgrains production in Rabi crop of 2006-07 at 308 lakh MT.

It also includes the target of pulses production at 25.62 lakh MT which was 19.57 Lakh MT in 2005-06.

UP government has fixed a target of 275 Lakh MT for the next Rabi crop 2006-07, which is 16.65 per cent higher compared to 236 Lakh MT wheat production in the last Rabi season. The overall target for foodgrains production for the next Rabi crop has been fixed at 307 Lakh MT, against the production of 260 Lakh MT, in 2005-06.

The year 2003-04 was the best year in current decade when the best wheat production level of 300 lakh MT was achieved. In 2004-05, the wheat production plummeted to 268 Lakh MT, largely due to less than normal rainfall.

The multi-pronged strategy for the Rabi crop of 2006-07 includes increase in availability of short-term crop loan, better availability of fertilizers and enhancing the seeds replacement rate, particularly for the wheat crop, and increasing total cultivable land under the Rabi crop.

In 2005-06, the total foodgrain production in Rabi crop was 260 Lakh MT. The target for the next Rabi is 18.61 higher than the 2005-06. For achieving four per cent growth, the wheat productivity target has been enhanced to 29.86 quintals per hectares against 25.72 at per hectare in 2005-06.

Wheat production was adversely affected due to the vagaries of weather in 2005-06 and the current paddy crop has also suffered damages due to late arrival of monsoon in certain parts of UP, while deficient rainfall in other parts of the state, according to UP Agriculture Production Commissioner (APC) Anees Ansari.

He said it was deemed necessary to compensate the loss in current paddy crop by increasing productivity in next Rabi crop.

Presently, UP contributes 21 per cent to national foodgrains stock, 48 per cent sugarcane production, 38 per cent potato and 16 per cent vegetables and other horticulture products.

The APC said in last Rabi season, total crop loan of Rs 4,842 crore was disbursed to farmers, which is targeted to be enhanced to 5,575 crore during the 2006-07 Rabi season. In 2005-06, per hectare crop loan in UP was 3,452, which is proposed to be increased by Rs 530 to Rs 3,982 per hectare in 2006-07. For ensuring easy availability of crop loan, UP has accorded top priority to the distribution of as many as 23,000 kisan credit cards.

According to the state Met office, against the normal rainfall of 832.9 mm, UP received only 576.3 mm of rainfall in the four monsoon months from June to September -- 31 per cent less then normal.

As many as 12 districts were under the spell of severe drought.

Western UP districts were worst affected, where on an average every district recorded 40 per cent below normal rains. The situation is slightly better in East UP districts, where rainfall was 31 per cent less than normal.

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