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Call for a second green revolution

CUTTACK, NOV. 21. A second green revolution is needed in Orissa to increase the agricultural production and meet the increasing food demand to provide food security not only to the people of the State but also to meet the need of the people outside the State.

The Orissa Director of Agriculture and Food Production, Umakanta Mishra, said the need for a green revolution was felt as by 2050 the population of the State is projected to reach 54 million and foodgrains requirement at 17.4 million tonnes, around five million tonnes less than its total foodgrains production now.

In an article published by Central Rice Research Institute (CRRI) recently Prof Misra said concerted efforts should be made from now on not only to make the State self-sufficient in foodgrains production but also to cater to the need of the people outside the State.

Prof. Misra said there was ample scope for sustained agricultural development in the State as its diversified agro-climatic conditions favours production of almost all crops.

Orissa which accounted for eight per cent of the total rice production in the country had made rapid strides in the production of foodgrains. During the last 50 years the foodgrains production of the State had increased by more than five fold from 2.4 million tonnes in 1950 to 12.3 million tonnes in 2001 due to increased adoption of high yielding varieties, fertiliser, expanded irrigation potential, farm mechanisation, agricultural credit and use of improved technology, he said.

Prof. Misra said despite the progress, the foodgrains production needed to be augmented to meet the increasing demand due to various reasons including rapid growth of population.

Prof. Misra said out of the projected demand of 17.4 million tonnes of foodgrains rice alone would be 13.6 million tonnes. Around 75 per cent of the projected demand has to come from irrigated tracts.

Since extending the crop area was unthinkable as per capita availability of arable land was gradually reducing due to urbanisation, construction of roads, buildings and establishment of industries a second green revolution was needed for sustainable agricultural development.

UNI

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Call for a second green revolution

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