Potential Problems

Challenges in agriculture in the district:-

  • Climate change (Early, terminal drought, dry spell, heat stress)
  • Dominance of cereal based (rice–wheat) cropping system (39.56%)
  • 9 % of farmers are marginal holds 0.5 to 1.0 ha land
  • Rain fed Farming (32%)
  • Poor and shallow soils (29.6%)
  • 29 % area kharif fallow due to unreliable & poorly distributed rains
  • Over stress on ground water (75.24 % irrigation is through Wells and Tube wells)
  • Increasing Production cost
  • Low productivity and Income from Livestock

Priority issues to be addressed:-

  • Crop planning (Selection of crop varieties based on LGP), Drought & heat tolerant varieties, short duration crop varieties, DSR, R&F, BBF and Raised bed sowing and intercropping
  • Diversification  from cereal based to pulses, oilseeds, horticultural crop based cropping system ( Rice- chickpea, Rice- mustard, Blackgram- wheat, Blackgram- Mustard)
  • Integrated farming system model for marginal, small and medium farmers under rain fed and irrigated conditions, promoting high valued cash crops( low volume high valued crops)
  • Promotion of nutri cereals (Sorghum, Pearl millet, Kodo millet, finger millet, foxtail millet, Barnyard millet) and crops maturing with in  35- 85 days (Radish, Spinach, Amaranthus, Leafy Coriander, Greengram, Blackgram, Niger, Sesame, Sweet corn, Cowpea
  • Promotion of nutri cereals and crops maturing with in  75- 85 days
  • Rain water harvesting for ground water recharge, Early maturing crops/varieties,   Low water requiring crops varieties  tolerant biotic factors,   Intercropping – Cereals, Pulses, Oilseeds
  • Deep summer ploughing, Use of Low water requiring crops varieties, Moisture conservation and water saving Technologies, Ridge and furrow sowing of  kharif pulses and oilseeds, Dry seeding/ Zero tillage sowing technique
  • Promotion of natural farming practices, Demonstration and popularization of  Bio composting techniques, microbial formulations and bio-pesticides, Soil test based Application  of plant nutrients, Use of trap crop in high value crop
  • Breed Up gradation, Increase in artificial insemination, Better feed management -Mineral mixture supplementation of feed, Azolla, Green fodder, Plantation of   fodder trees on Farm bunds,  Improved Shelter for livestock,  Prophylaxis of livestock,  Disease Management.
  • Formation of FPOs, Value addition of farm produce, market linkage