Gujarat Agriculture: An overview

1. Gujarat Agriculture: An overview

2. GUJARAT AGRICULTURE AT A GLANCE • Total Geographical Area: 188.00 lakh ha. • Cultivable Area: 86.00 lakh ha. • Agro-climatic Zones: Eight

3. GUJARAT AGRICULTURE AT A GLANCE cont… CROPS • Major Crops: Wheat, Bajra, Rice, Maize, Groundnut, Mustard, Sesame, Pigeon pea, Green Gram, Gram, Cotton, Sugarcane. • Gujarat is the largest producer of, Castor, Tobacco, Isabgul (Psyllium), second largest Producer of Sesame seeds, Cotton and Groundnut in the country. • Gujarat has highest productivity in, Mustard, Castor and cotton, second highest productivity in Groundnut and Bajra, third highest productivity in Gram and Guar in the country.

4. GUJARAT AGRICULTURE AT A GLANCE cont… HORTICULTURE • Major Crops: Mango, Banana, Sapota, Lime, Guava, Tomato, Potato, Onion, Cumin, Garlic, Isabgul, Fennel • Total Area: About 2.52 lakh ha. • Gujarat has highest productivity in, Guava, Potato, Onion, Cumin and Fennel, third highest productivity in Banana and Isabgul in the country.

5. GUJARATAGRICULTURE AT A GLANCE cont… ANIMAL HUSBANDRY Contribute 5 % of GDP of the State

6. GUJARAT AGRICULTURE AT A GLANCE cont… DAIRY DEVELPMENT • 12 District Milk Producers’ Union • 10,725 Milk Cooperative Societies • 150 lakh liter/day Milk Production • 20.84 lakh Members of Milk Cooperative Societies • Members get weekly cash payment for sale of milk. • They are provided health care,cattelfeed and artificial inseminisation services by union

7. AGRICULTURAL INFRASTRUCTURE AGRICULTURAL MARKETING ORGANISATIONS

8. AGRICULTURAL AT GLANCE ….. LAND USAGE & IRRIGATION CLASSIFICATION OF STATE LAND USAGE Total land held by Operational Holders 89.00 lakh hectors Actual cultivated area 86.00 lakh hectors Total cultivated area 112.00 lakh hectors Area under irrigation Irrigation Potential through canal irrigation: 21.48 lakh ha. With Sardar Sarovar Dam: 38.41 lakh ha. No. of Check dams & Boribands constructed: 50,000 No. of Farm Ponds created: 1,37,000 No. of Village Ponds deepened: 3087 A major Watershed Programme under implementation

9. ADVANTAGE GUJARAT • 1600 Km long coastal belt • Diversified Crops and Cropping systems • Climatic diversities • Biodiversities • Good transport facilities -- PORTS & AIRPORTS • Strong Agri Marketing system, Agro based Industries & Co-operatives • Enterprising Farmers having business instincts • Geographical Location

10. CONSTRAINTS • Drought prone areas & arid areas forms more then 50 % of state • Soil erosion is increasing due to advancement of Desert land, Deforestation • Depletion Of Water Table • Sea Water Ingress • Deterioration of Soil and Water conditions due to salinity ingress • Irregular rain pattern affecting productivity in agriculture • Agriculture affected due to recurrent droughts • Low Productivity Of Local Livestock Breeds • Inadequate Fodder Resources • Poor R & D Facilities For Marine resources • Inadequate trained human resource for modern agricultural research and education

11. GUJARAT RECENT INITIATIVESWTO • Agri-Export Zones for Mangoes,Vegetables and Onions & Till set up in State. • Perishable air cargo complex at Ahmedabad International airport being set up –GOI sanction for land awaited. • Agro Industrial policy to support Agro Export & Processing of Agro Products • Testing laboratory being set-up with Gujarat Agriculture Universities • Special efforts to guide Farmers to produce QUALITY product including ORGANIC PRODUCTS

12. GUJARAT RECENT INITIATIVES WTO cont.. • FOUR SPECIAL markets being created for spices , Fruit crops, vegetables & flowers and Oils seeds • GUJARAT has large warehousing Capacity & cold storage chain

13. Strengthening of Agriculture infra structure Research & Education • Formation of FOUR Agriculture Universities(Anand,Dantiwada,Navsari,Junagadh) by Reorganization • Following Advance Agri research & Education efforts under way • Center of Excellence on Biotechnology, Anand • Center of Excellence on Post Harvest Technology, Navsari • Center of Excellence on soil and water Management, Junagadh • Center for Excellence On Castor, Sardar Krushinagar

14. Strengthening of Agriculture infra structureResearch & Education cont…. • Advanced Research and Educational Centre for Horticultural Crops, Navsari • WTO Cell, Junagadh

15. Strengthening of Agriculture infra structure BROAD OBJECTIVES Soil Health Card Programme - an overview • Doubling of income of farmers • Direct advise to individual farmer - a new approach in extension • Direct involvement of Agri Scientist at village level to bridge gap between actual and potential production • Providing Stability to agriculture by providing scientific micro level planning

16. Strengthening of Agriculture infra structure cont.. SOIL HEALTH CARD..FINE OBJECTIVES • Analysis of soil of all the villages of the state • Guidance to farmers regarding fertilizer usage based on soil analysis • Advising farmers regarding alternate cropping pattern based on soil analysis. • Providing Soil Health Card to each farmer. • 2,00,000 Soil Health Card distributed to farmers

17. SOIL HEALTH CARD Government of Gujarat initiated scheme of SHC Actions Taken by AUs Actions Taken by DAG SHC Program Expert Group formed Soil data of 2,00,000 farmers’ land collected from 18000 villages in 2003=04 District level and Taluka level Scientists Identified Soil samples analyzed and database created Scientists & Extensions are advising crop improvement qualitatively based on soil data and existing knowledge DAG started farmers meet to explain cropping based on Soil data & makes available at local level Crop planning based on MAI TALUKA PLAN VILLAGE PLAN INDIVIDUAL FARMAR PLAN University recommendations compiled CDC formed

18. WORK PLANsoil health card Strengthening of Agriculture infra structure cont…. • Rabi- 2003-04 & Kharif 2004-05 • Work Plan prepared for every taluka and village by team of agri. scientists, Agri. officers and hort. officer • Rabi 2004-05 • Taluka level plan prepared • Village/Individual Farmer level plan under preparation

19. ADVANTAGE FARMERS Soil Health Card cont… • Farmers have now advantage of • Knowing actual quantity of fertilizer needed. (This resulted in less use of Urea in certain areas) • Alternate crop pattern • Dialogue with scientists for issue related to farming

20. FUTURE PLAN Soil Health Card cont… • The taluka level plan will be based on • Soil health analysis • Rainfall pattern • Soil depth analysis (data source BISAG) • Market research - data of average price of various crops of last five years • Manuals under preparation • AAU - for officers for taluka and village plan preparation • JAU - for Individual Farmers’ plan

21. e-governance at the disposal of Farmers Use of e-governance for farmers is on the way • Farmers can get village Records of Rights of land has been computerized at Computer Centre at Taluka level. • Agriculture Taluka level planning is displayed on WEBSITE. • TALK – BACK" PROGRAMS CONDUCTED ON PACKAGE OF PRACTICES OF VARIOUS CROPS WITH FARMERS • Farmers will be able to interact with Scientists from their village under e-gram project

22. Credit, Insurance and Financial Support to Farmers • 15 lakh Kisan Credit Cards distributed last year • 5 lakh Kisan Credit Cards distributed this year (cooperation NABARD) • Credit of Rs. 4500 crore is already given by September end. 1,18,000 farmers added in loans sanctioned • The Crop Insurance Scheme is implemented in the State. Rs. 700 crores of claims of farmers were paid in last year • Another Farmers Income Insurance Scheme has also been implemented in 5 districts. • We have initiated the Farmers’ Accident Insurance Scheme. The coverage of accidental death is of Rs. 1 lakh. Rs. 818.15 lakh premium was paid by Government in last three years.

23. Focus on villages Gram Sabha • Direct interaction between Government functionaries and the village people to solve village level problems on the spot. • Meets three times in a year Tirthgram – Samras gram- Jyotigram and E-gram • To enhance better quality of life in villages.

24. Communications • Roads and the transport services are connecting all villages of the State • 98 % of villages are electrified • All Talukas are connected with telecommunication network. • State has its own GSWAN network which will shortly reach out to villages. Gujarat State Wide Area Network

25. Biotechnology • Top priority in Vision 2010 Action Plan • Enhancing genetic yield levels of crops and animals, incorporating resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses • Leading to a sustainable, stable and remunerative agriculture

26. Organic Farming • Growing awareness amongst farmers – incresed use of wormi-compost • Need to have Testing Laboratory with Agricultural Universities for certification of Organic Product • Need for Corporates and NGOs to provide link between growers and traders to tap multi billion global market of organic farm products.

27. Weather Forecasting • Country’s crop production and productivity dependent on monsoon • Due to erratic rainfall pattern in many years, productivity gets effected • Need for developing a sound weather forecasting system • Farmers need to be provided information on weather at least 7 days in advance as available in Western countries This will reduce losses on crop and loss of input and sometime entire farming operation.

28. Wind & Solar Energy • India has a vast resource of solar & wind energy • Increasing use for agriculture related items like cheap desalination, operationalisation of pumps by solar energy, solar drier,wind mills needed • Technologies available but it has limited extension due to high cost.

29. Development of Wasteland • Country has, particularly in States like Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana, vast track of waste lands. Technology needed for fodder, salinity resistant crops and trees for these areas. • This will enhance area under agriculture and support a strong base of livestock & Provide employment

30. Market related Research • It is essential to carry out Market Research on agricultural production and productivity of other countries where our Agriculture commodities are in demand on a continuous basis. • A market mechanism needs to be developed for dissemination of information and exports • Need to monitor weather condition and crop production of such countries which include Africa, Middle-East, South-East Asia and SAARC countries.

31. Water Supply

32. Major concerns : Per capita availability of fresh water is 60% of the national average 78% of drinking water supply dependent on ground water. Quality and/or quantity of ground water – unreliable During last 15 years : Reduction in quantity of ground water by 26% water table going down by almost 3 mts. every year 27% of villages have water quality problems – excess fluoride & nitrate 1600 Km of coastline lead to problem of salinity ingress in 1/6th part of the State Recurrence of drought every three years

33. Strategy and Approach : To create sustainable and reliable source of drinking water throughout the year on long term basis by shifting to surface water resources. To make water available in adequate quantity in water scarce and quality affected villages on priority basis. Inter basin bulk transfer of water from South and Central Gujarat to drought prone, desert areas and water quality effected villages of Kutch, Saurashtra and North Gujarat areas. 75% of the total villages to be covered by permanent drinking water supply grid with provision for providing filtered water.

34. Strategy and Approach … 10,000 out of 18,000 villages to be covered under Narmada Dam based Water Supply Scheme. 10 worst drought affected and desert districts to be provided drinking water under Sujalam & Suphalam Yojana which emphasis on in-situ water conservation and restoring ecological water balance. In good rainfall areas of south and central Gujarat, emphasis on rainwater harvesting and development of local water sources based water supply systems, which are easy to manage, operate and maintain by local people at low O & M cost.

35. Empowerment of Rural Community All in-village water supply schemes will be demand based and to be implemented and managed by local community. Formation of Pani Samities to take over the full responsibility of water supply and sanitation in villages. NGOs to play a role as Implementation Support Agencies (ISAs) and 32 NGOs are working at present. In accordance to 73rd Amendment in the Constitution, capacity building and empowerment of Village Panchayats/ Village Water and Sanitation Committees (VWSC)/ Pani Samitis to plan, implement, manage, operate and maintain their in-village water supply systems in long term.

36. CONCLUSION State Government takes the full responsibility of drinking water sources - bulk and semi-bulk water supply Village community to manage their in-village systems Development of local and traditional source for conjunctive use. State Government proposes to ensure safe potable drinking water to all villages by December, 2008 on a permanent, long term and sustainable basis.

37. THANKS