Agriculture and allied activities, which constitute the main source of livelihood for a major section of population in Odisha, grew by 6 per cent in 2022-23 against 2.4 per cent growth rate in 2021- 22. The agriculture sector registered a much higher growth rate than that of India (3.5 per cent) in 2022-23, according to the latest report of the Odisha Economic Survey (2022-23).

All the sub-sectors of the agriculture sector registered a strong growth rate in 2022-23 over the previous year. The crop sub-sector grew at 5.4 per cent in 2022-23 against -1.6 per cent in 2021-22.

The collective impact of drought, unseasonal rain, and Cyclone Jawad in the harvesting period of Kharif season led to contraction in the crop sector in 2021-22. The forestry and logging sub-sector witnessed a high growth rate of 5.5 per cent in 2022-23 (AE) against 1.8 per cent growth rate in 2021-22. Livestock and fishery subsectors are estimated to grow at 2.4 per cent and 13.3 per cent respectively in 2022-23 over the previous year, the report said.

In 2021-22, net sown area in the State was 54.1 lakh hectares accounting for 35 per cent of the total geographical area. It has increased by 1.5 per cent over the previous year.

Fallow Lands which include both current fallows and other fallows accounted for 6 per cent of total land in the State. The total gross cropped area, which represents the total area sown once or more, has increased marginally (0.3 per cent) in 2021-22 over the previous year.

During 2021-22, the total gross cropped area in the state was about 85.6 lakh hectares. The cropping intensity in the State has increased from 150 in 2015-16 to 158 in 2021-22. This could be because of an improvement in irrigation facilities and concerted efforts by the government to promote multiple sowing and crop diversification. Marginal and small farmers account for about 93 per cent of total holdings in the State.

Cereals are leading crops in Odisha, accounting for about 51.6 per cent of total gross cropped area in 2021- 22. Within cereals, paddy is a dominant crop produced in the state. The cropping pattern in the State has been evolving overtime. The gross cropped area under non-paddy cereals has increased in 2021-22 by 7.56 per cent over the previous year whereas the crop area under paddy has decreased by 1.5 per cent in the same period because of promotion of millet mission and crop diversification measures by the State.

The share of oilseeds in total crop area has increased to 6.6 per cent in 2021-22 from 6.2 percent in 2020-21. The increasing share in ‘other crops’ indicates the rise in area under high value crops like cotton, other fibres, spices, flowers, etc. In 2021-22, the area under spices and flowers has increased to 3.09 per cent and 2.67 per cent respectively over the previous year. Pulses accounted for 22.3 per cent of total gross cropped area in 2021-22.

In 2021-22, Odisha produced 92.91 lakhs Metric Ton of rice. Maize production has increased by about 4.5 per cent in 2021-22 over previous year and there is a significant growth in production of other cereals (about 12.54 per cent) reflecting the state’s effort to promote millets (including Ragi & non-Ragi) cultivation in the state, the report concluded.