Bhubaneswar, June 9 (FN Bureau) Odisha government has given priority to crop diversification and raising farm income during KHARIFF 2023. As per the Kharif Campaign 2023 approved by Chief Secretary, P K Jena on Thursday, the state has targeted for production of 116.82 lakh MT of food grains, 2.22 lakh MT of oilseeds, 9.28 lakh bales of fibers and 87.42 lakh MT of vegetables & spices covering cultivated area of 61.80 lakh hectares during Kharif 2023. The government has decided to diversify around 2 lakh hectares of paddy area to more remunerative crops. Special emphasis has been given on different programmes like Odisha Millet Mission (OMM), Crop Diversification Programme (CDP), Integrated Farming System (IFS), Farm Pond Plus, Mukhyamantri Krushi Udyog Yojana (MKUY), DBT Farm Mechanization, Jalnidhi and Saura Jalanidhi.
The OMM has been extended to all the districts by targeting the rainfed areas covering 177 blocks of the State. The government has targeted to divert the feasible upland and medium paddy lands situated in the ayacut of Mega Lift Irrigation Projects to different non-paddy high-value crops focusing on area expansion of pulses, oilseed and vegetables in the state. A decision was also taken for the popularization of different farm machinery and equipment by organizing massive Krushi Jantrapati Melas in different pockets of the state. Emphasis will be given for the establishment of private lift irrigation points and pump sets under the Jalanidhi programme and the Sustainable Harnessing of Ground Water thereby bringing more area under assured irrigation.
The use of solar energy for irrigation will be promoted by popularizing solar photo voltaic pump sets and establishing solar lift irrigation points. The meeting also decided to give more emphasis on Horticulture Sector, having a promise for higher returns per rupee by implementing programmes like kharif potato, promotion of plantation crops, oil palm, Hybrid Vegetable cultivation, Jackfruit Mission, Mushroom Mission. The Agriculture Production Clusters (APC) will be promoted for organising the farmers into product-centric groups there by facilitating adequate marketing linkage to fetch higher income.