More than 80 per cent families in the industrial Jharsuguda district depend on agriculture for their livelihood. But, no importance isgiven to the development of agricultural infrastructure, planning and coordination by the Government, for which more than 70 percent land remain unutilised for 7-8 months in a year. However, planning for Rabi crops has been done at a meeting on February 9 last here in which the target kept for cultivation is only 25,310 hectare land out of total 87,783 hectare cultivable land available in the district.
With irrigation capacity for only 16 percent land in Hirakud-Mahanadi, Bheden and Ib rivers in the district, irrigation is possible for only 9 percent cultivable land in Jharsuguda district. According to the District Agriculture sources during the year, it is planned for cultivation of different varieties of summer crops in 25,310 hectare lands of the district. As per records, cultivation of summer crops was undertaken in 26,814 hectare land during 2017-18, 22, 225 hectare in 2018-19 and 24, 687 hectare in 2019-20.
Sources said 14,067 hectare land is irrigated and rest 11,243 hectare is non-irrigated in the district. However, planning is not there to cultivate paddy with more productivity this year. But, wheat cultivation will be done in 70 hectare and corn in 150 hectare land, red gram in 320 hectare, black gram in 1,200 hectare, biri in 240 hectare, kolatha in 3,050 hectare, peas in 1,800 hectare and other pulses in 2,690 hectare lands. Ground nut cultivation will be done in 250 hectare, sesame in 500 hectare, mustard seeds in 1,500 hectare and sunflower in 130 hectare.
That apart, target is kept for potato cultivation in 450 hectare land, sweet potato in 250 hectare, onion in 750 hectare and other vegetables in 9,470 hectare, green chili in 950 hectare , garlic in 200 hectare, coriander seed in 1,350 hectare and sugarcane in 30 hectare land.