NT NETWORK
PONDA
Notwithstanding the support extended by the government to farmers in the form of various schemes, there has been a notable decrease in the area under paddy cultivation as well as the production last year.
According to statistics from the agriculture department, 1,80,754 tonne paddy was produced in the year 2014-15 and it came down to 1,72,602 tonne in 2015-16, a reduction of 8,153 tonne. During the said period, the area under cultivation also came down from 41,970 hectares in 2014-15 to 41,344 hactares in 2015-16, a reduction of 626 hectares.
This decrease in area under paddy cultivation and production has been the biggest when compared to last five years. Area under paddy cultivation declined both during the rabi as well as kharif season.
During 2014-15, in the kharif season, 27,840 hectare area was brought under paddy cultivation with the output being 1,21,097 tonne. While in the rabi season, 14,130 hectares of land was brought under paddy cultivation and the output was 58,853 tonne.
During 2015-16, in the kharif season, 27,730 hectares of land was brought under paddy cultivation and output was 1,17,733 tonne, whereas in the rabi season, 13,614 hectares of land was brought under paddy cultivation and 54,869 tonne paddy was produced.
Agriculture director Ulhas Pai Kakode said that paddy cultivation in state is not viable economically as the cost of cultivation is much higher than the profits and so farmers hesitate to take up paddy cultivation. Year by year, the area under paddy cultivation is coming down and so does the production, he added. He said, “Farmers are getting assured price and easy market for horticulture produce. So, many paddy farmers have given up paddy cultivation and are turning towards horticulture.”
A farmer from Madkai Rajesh Kundaikar said, “The cost of paddy cultivation has increased drastically during the last few years. In particular, the cost of labour has gone up notably. On the other hand, cost of horticulture cultivation is low and there is a good profit margin. Farmers get good profits within a short period of 50 to 60 days. The assured price scheme from the department has made life easy for the farmers, whereas in paddy cultivation, the time period is longer and assured price is also low. Farmers find horticulture crop cultivation profitable compared to paddy. So, we have brought more area under horticulture crop cultivation.”
A senior agriculture officer said, “Rampant urbanisation has led to reduction in area under paddy cultivation in the state. Some land stretches in the urban areas are still brought under paddy cultivation but the land has lost its productivity due to the release of sewage and garbage dumping. Most fields in the urban areas have been rendered barren due to various reasons. In the villages too, the farmers are neglecting paddy cultivation due to the low returns.”