Patna: The agriculture department, Bihar, has targetted an area of 36.54 lakh hectare for cultivation of paddy in this kharif seasons, which is around 1 lakh hectares more than the last year’s estimate. However, coverage of maize production has estimated to come down to 2.93 lakh hectare vis-a-vis 3.35 lakh hectare.
This was disclosed by state agriculture minister Mangal Pandey at the kharif workshop organised at Bihar Agriculture Management & Extension Training Institute (Bameti) here on Friday. Coverage area of pigeon pea or arhar is also like to decrease to 0.56 lakh hectare this cropping season against 0.59 lakh hectares last season. Moong is likely to be grown on 0.17 lakh hectare against the last year’s estimation of 0.23 lakh hectare.
Millet is likely to be cultivated on 0.15 lakh hectare against 0.075 lakh hectare, sorghum or jwar on 0.16 lakh hectare against 0.06 lakh hectare and madua on 0.29 lakh hectare against 0.09 lakh hectares while and 0.11 lakh hectare has been earmarked for production of other pulses.
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The agriculture department officials said that an area of 3.65 lakh hectare area has been earmarked for sowing of paddy seedlings. About 5069.52 quintals of paddy seeds are being made available to the farmers at 90% subsidy under the chief minister’s rapid seed expansion scheme with a view to arranging sufficient quantity of seeds of the latest varieties to far-flung areas. About 8152 quintals of seeds of various crops will be given to the farmers for seed production at the rate of 75% incentive based on the quantity of certified seed produced by them
“Under the seed distribution program for promoting crop diversification, traditional and climate-resilient crops and area expansion in Kharif 2024, a total of 110446.14 quintals of certified seeds of various crops such as paddy 76,272.52 quintals, pigeon pea 4815.64 quintals, hybrid maize 22468.32 quintals, madua 2640 quintals, millet 666.5 quintals, sorghum 1106.5 quintals, other millets such as Kangni, Kauni, Sawa and Kodo 2340 quintals, sweet corn 36.66 quintals, baby corn 100 quintals etc. are being distributed at 50%subsidy,” said the minister.
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The minister further stated that in this Kharif season, 9.87 lakh metric tons of urea, 2.50 lakh metric tons of DAPO, 0.35 lakh metric tons of MOPO and 02 lakh metric tons of NPK will be required. Strict compliance of the government’s zero tolerance policy will be ensured to provide fertilizers to farmers on time and to supply fertilizers at reasonable prices.
The state government has launch organic corridor scheme, under which organic farming is being done in 13 districts of the state on the banks of the river Ganga like Patna, Nalanda, Buxar, Bhojpur, Vaishali, Saran, Samastipur, Begusarai, Lakhisarai, Bhagalpur, Munger, Katihar and Khagaria. Farmers will be given advance grant at the rate of ₹6,500 per acre for organic inputs for organic farming in 19574 acres. A farmer can avail this grant for a maximum of 2.5 acres. Under the green manure scheme, 18600 quintals of Dhaincha seeds have been distributed among farmers for 93,000 hectares of area in the state in the Kharif season at 90% subsidy.
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Agriculture secretary, Sanjay Kumar Agarwal presided over the programme, which was attended by agriculture director Mukesh Kumar Lal, horticulture director Abhishek Kumar and additional secretary Shailendra Kumar and many other senior officers of the department.
