The office of the Agriculture Production Commissioner confirmed that wheat production this year is expected to increase from 256 lakh metric tonne to 270 lakh metric tonne and the wheat growing area by seven lakh hectare. The production of rice increased from 117 lakh metric tonne last year to 131 lakh metric tonne. The trend is the same with other cereals and pulses.

According to the Agriculture Directorate, in both Rabi and Kharif crops combined, the growth in cereals is 6 per cent, in foodgrains it is 8 per cent and in pulses a whopping 48 per cent.

This becomes important as the share of agriculture in the state’s gross domestic product is as high as 28 per cent — much higher than the industrially advanced states which have been hit hard by the economic slowdown.

In the 11th plan (2007-2012), the growth target in the agriculture sector which includes animal husbandry, irrigation, minor irrigation, sugarcane, dairy and crop husbandry was fixed at 5.1 per cent. 

The achievement last year was a little less than four per cent. This year, the figure has not yet been compiled, but the government hopes that it is going to be better.

“Government policies, constant soil monitoring, and expansion of subsidies and distribution of fertilisers, were a few reasons which could be attributed to this agricultural growth in the state,” said Anis Ansari, Agriculture Production Commissioner. Beside, the shrinking areas of sugarcane added to the growth of other crops, he added.

According to the Cane Commissioner’s office, the area under sugarcane has decreased from 28.50 lakh hectare last year to 21.40 lakh hectare this year as cane growers opted for more cost-beneficial crops. The sugar recovery was as less as 7.5 per cent which was due to prolonged and continuous rains, after a long spell of drought. The climatic conditions brought down the sugar production from 73 tonne to 38 tonne this year.

Agriculture Director Rajit Ram Verma said this year the government distributed 13 to 14 lakh tonne more fertiliser as compared to last year. “But this time, selective distribution was done after soil testing.”

Under the programme Apni Mitti Pehchano, the government tested and delivered more than 20 lakh soil samples and fertiliser which is specific to the need of the soil.