Considering the soil and climatic condition of the district suitable for growing various crops, Kalahandi administration has drawn up the agriculture strategy for kharif season.

With Met office forecasting less rainfall during the monsoon this year, the strategy has given a thrust on non-paddy crops and change in the cropping pattern during the season. Though there is no change in paddy coverage area, focus will be given on commercially viable medium and short duration paddy crop.

As per the agriculture strategy document released at a meeting here on Wednesday, the net crop coverage area in the district will be 3.83 lakh hectares (ha) with paddy targeted to be raised in 1.9 lakh ha like previous year.

With Kalahandi emerging as one of the leading districts of the State in maize and cotton production in the recent years, it is targeted to cultivate maize in 1.97 lakh ha and cotton in 45,850 ha against 1.81 lakh ha and 43,056 ha in the last kharif season respectively.

These apart, different types of pulses will be grown in 83,400 ha and oil seeds in 16,000 ha as per the strategy. Due to forecast of rainfall, it is targeted to cover more area with mixed cropping. An awareness drive will be launched to persuade farmers to switch over to other crops from paddy.

Source - http://www.newindianexpress.com/