With a bid to revive Gurjee cultivation and give it the much-needed boost here, the district agriculture officials have dawn a plan to take up the crop in at least 100 acres of land in Mubirabhal, Titiligarh, Tureikela, Bongomunda and other areas. Gurjee, one of the minor millets, has nutritional value which was earlier consumed by rural people in a big way. But now the crop is hardly cultivated, thanks to the changing of food habits of people and lack of incentives.
According to Kharif strategy of Balangir district, for the year 2013-14, Gurjee cultivation would be taken up in a total of 100 acres in Titilagarh,Mubribahal, Tureikela, Bongomunda and adjoining areas. The farmers would contribute seed themselves. The agriculture department would provide them a financial assistance of Rs500 each, besides supply of bio fertiliser/organic fertiliser.
The farmers would be encouraged and motivated to go for scientific way of farming like line sowing and other methods for better yield, an agriculture official said.
Gurjee is sown by the end of June- July in Att land (upland) and harvested by September. It meets the crucial food stress period of the poor people. Earlier, people only cultivated it for consuming at home and not for selling. However, with small traders coming to villages to purchase it, the poor villagers are selling the crop in past few years and purchasing rice in return.
As Gurjee crop is providing food and economic security to the poor people, we are contemplating to give a further boost to it by observing a Gurjee Parab in forthcoming months, says Bhajaram Sahu of Bongomunda, while welcoming the decision of the agriculture department for revival and promotion of Gurjee in Balangir.