The average yield rate of rice, the principal crop in Odisha, has made almost three-fold jump in a span of two decades.
The average yield, which was 10.41 quintal per hectare in 2000-01, has increased to 27.30 quintal per hectare during 2020-21, senior officials of agriculture and farmers’ empowerment department said on Tuesday.
From a food deficit state, Odisha has become self-sufficient in food grain production and a surplus state in rice production.
The rice production has more than doubled and food grains saw its highest ever production of 130.39 lakh Metric Ton in the year 2020-21. Because of the consistent performance of the State in food production of grains, the State has been awarded 5 times with “Krushi Karman Award” and also won many more laurels, they informed.
Pulse is an ideal source of protein particularly in regions where meat and dairy are not physically or economically accessible. The pulse production of the State has been nearly one & half times from 6.96 lakh MT during 2000-01 to 10.43lakh MT during 2020-21.
The food grain production in the State is estimated to touch 128.26 lakh MT during 2022-23 which has almost more than doubled during the last 20 years from 55.35 lakh MT during 2000-01.
Similarly, the Cotton production in the State has increased nine times i.e. from 65 thousand bales during 2000-01 to 626.36 thousand bales during 2020-21.
The vegetable production of the State has reached to a high of 97.55 lakh MT during 2020-21 which is almost thrice during the last 20years from 33.37 lakh MT during 2000-01.
The state ranks 1st in sweet potato production, 1st in paddy straw mushroom production, and 2nd in brinjal & cabbage in the country. The State ranks 2nd in India in terms of production of Jackfruits, 7th in Sapota and 9th in Mango production. The state is also the 3rd largest producer of cashew-nut, 5th largest in Watermelon, Tomato production, ranks 6th in Cauliflower and bottle gourd production in India, they concluded.