Financial Daily from THE HINDU group of publications
Saturday, Feb 18, 2006
Financial Daily from THE HINDU group of publications Saturday, Feb 18, 2006 |
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Agricultural Policy Agri-Biz & Commodities - Cultivation A plan to help farmers, improve soil — Centre to launch new crop diversification programme this year M.R. Subramani
Chennai , Feb. 17 IF things turn out as per the Union Agriculture Ministry's plans, then farmers, particularly in the North, who go in for rice-wheat cultivation can hope to get better returns. The Union Government is considering a new crop diversification programme to bring in a change in such rice-wheat cultivation pattern, according to official sources. "The programme is in action mode. It will be discussed at the higher forum during February-March," said Dr Mishra, Project Director, DWR, when contacted. The programme is likely to be introduced initially in Punjab and Haryana this year. The plan to bring in a change in the cultivation pattern involves going in for shorter-duration varieties and mixing vegetables and pulses as part of the combination in the year-round cultivation. "We are attempting to introduce an early variety rice," said Dr Mishra. This rice can be harvested at least 15 days ahead of the current variety being sown in the North. Then, farmers will be encouraged to go in for zero tillage to sow wheat. Zero till system is planting of crops with minimum soil disturbance. In this system, farmers directly sow wheat after harvesting paddy without undertaking any ploughing operations. All they do is irrigate the standing paddy crop a few days before harvesting. The rice is harvested near to the ground so that the leftover stubble is not more than 6 inches in height. Wheat is then directly sown after 2-3 days by deploying the zero-till machine, utilising the residual moisture. "Zero tillage can save another 15 days for the farmers. Now, these 30 days can be utilised for farmers to grow vegetables, particularly peas. This can be cultivated between the rice and wheat crop," said Dr Mishra. This will not only help farmers to get another income but also enhance soil health. "Again, after wheat farmers can grow pulses, mainly moong. This will help improve micro-nutrients in the soil besides ensuring additional income," Dr Mishra said. Besides, the directorate is also working on mechanisation of farm machinery and implements that will cheaper and ecologically beneficial, according to Dr Mishra.
More Stories on : Agricultural Policy | Cultivation | Rice | Wheat
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