\] /V q § n ' § b C A'GRI CULTURE 1. la the draft five year plan 1978-83, an outlay of Rs. 870-00 lakhs was -proposed for Agriculture sector of the State. But against this, the outlay finally approved was Rs. 640'0.0 lakhi only. The revised Sixth FiVe re a ri'ja n 1980-85 has been formulated within an outlay of Rs. 1,108 00 Jakhs in d u in g Rs. 168-10 lakhs approved for the annual plaft 1980-81. ihe expenditure during 1980-81 is likely to reach R^. 178'I0 lakhs The requirement for the remaining four years of the plan period is estimated to be Rs. 929 00 lakhs. , f ' :—Meghalaya has so far been a deficit State in respect of foodgpAins. The economic condition /of the rural community is also very’pcJor. It has, all through, been the endeavour of the State to increase thej^ductions offoodgrains as well as Commercial ffon** Qif'c tbe Sixth Five Year Plan period (1980-85)' under Agriculture sector, stress will be -given mainly on two major asp^ts (i) i'Jiftrease in foodgrain production .aiming at self sufficiency in. Vnear future; (”)Jt?l^.asc in production of eomrasrcial Crops including horticul­ ture crops for economic betterment of the rural community which form almost 85 per cent of the total population, A. Foodgrain prodaction Foodgrain production in the State in 1979-80 i.e., the base year for the current 6th Plan is estimated at only 1-40 '^kh. tonnes. TJiis is, however, against the actual achievement of 1’50 lakh ♦onnes in 1978-79. The low production in 1979-80 is mainly due to un- usu^ drought in ihe State, normally known for heavy rainfall. The target already fixtd for 1980-81 is 1'62 lakh tonnes. With an average annual growth rate of 6 per cent approximately, the target for fcodgrain production by the end of 1984-85 is proposed at2’10 lakh tonnes. The projected population of the State by end of the Sixth Plan (1984-85) is approximately 14 00 lakhs. With 80 per cent of the population taken as adult equivalent, and food requirement at 500 grammes per day pj r adult, tlic food requirem ent by that year-comes to 2 05 lakh tonnes. So, ^Vi^h seed requirement and loss in field and storage a production of 2'10 iakh tonnes should make the State self-sufTicient in foodgrain by 1984-85. T h e Estimate is,undoubtedly, on the higher side in view of the fact that rice^s the main foodgrain of the State. Even in the advanced States of the country, a 5 per cent growth in rice has not been achieved.. And in a hilly Statf .where improved agriculture is rather in the initial stage and terrains are cfifficuSt and land for wet paddy cultivation under >improved .packages being limited-this is certainly a hard task. However, with a view to remove the clironic problem of food-shortage, this has been aimed at. The strategy to be undertaken for achieving thi| target would be as follows :— ■ (a) To increase the area under d<Varf high yielding varieties of rice 'in the low altitude region of the State to 30,000 hcctarcs from present 16^000 hectaies in (1979-80). *■ f ' ^ S C A N N ^ (b) To double the area under improved varieties of rice in medi urn and high altitude region (.No High Yielding varieties, yet evolved to suit the region) and reach a level of 24,000 hectares. (c) To increase area under H.Y.V. of other cereals and pulses. (d) To intensify use of fertilizer in High Yielding and improved varieties of paddy and other cereals, through an intensified programme of training and demonstration (so far, che use of fertilizer in ccrcals crops is rather negligible). (e) Systematic Plant ?rotectiT3n<^measures against aU pests and diseases. (f ) To increase area under double crowing which v^^ould involve cereal crops (like paddy and wheat, pulses, oilseed and other crops). (g) To facilitate double wopping and assured \v ^ r supply even for- Mono Cropped Area—by increasing irrigation f^icilities State. B. D evelopm ent o f C ash G rdps %—(i) Potato is the majP^ cash wop in the high altitude region of the State (Mainly in Shillong platWu of I^asi Hills). During the last 5-6 years, production of potato has ^most- been doubled by change of varieties (Kufrijyoti is the variety now larised) and adoption of improved practices. The same growth, 15 per cent per year) however, may not be possible during the next (eV years, scope for further improvement being limited. In addition, the cra9*\ ' down of price of potato with simultaneous doubling of fertilizer pricc in' recent past is likely to have an adverse effect on growth rate of potato. However, if the price of potato can be retained at a reasonable level, a moderate growth rale may be continued. Taking all this into consideration a target of r 6 0 lakh tonnes has been proposed for 1984-85, ag£«nst 1-30 lakh tonnes for 1979-80- (ii) Ju te a n d M esfa.—A target of 99,900 bales is fixed for 1984-85 against the achievement of 65,000 bales in '979-80, to be achieved both by increase in area and production. (iii) Cotton.—Short staple cotton is another Important cash crop in some parts o'the State. A higher target of 6,500 bales i? proposed by 1984-85 against 4,003 bales for 1979-80. t However, the growth of the above cash crops (i.?., Jute, Mesta and Cotton) would depend more on the stability of market than all our endeavours to increase total production. While our efforts would be to increase per unit yield and by expanding area under improved variety- and improved practices, the area under the crop would depend more on pricc level. (iv) Ginger aod Turmeric.—Increase of area under improved varieties and under improved practices would be taken up to inprease the total production of these crops. More emphasis would be given on expan­ sion of areas under Turmeric, for which the market is more or less •table so far. \ (v) Other spices crops. —Efforts will be made to increase 3 rea under spices crops like black pepper and attempt will be made to intro­ duce other cash crops like ‘Dalchini’, Clove, Cardamon, etc., in selected, area on the State. (vi) Oilseeds.—Like food-grain the State is deficit in oil-secds also. The major Oil-Sfeds crop in the State is Mustard. Next- Oil-seed crop of importance is Sesaraum. Soyabean is another crop with wider scope for expansion. Both area and production under Oil-Seeds would be increased and target of 6,800 m etdc tonnes is fixed for 1984-85 and 6,200 metric tonnes for 1981-82. (vii) Arecannt and Betelvines.—Distribution of gOod quality areca- nut seedlings for replacing old and uneconomic gardens would be taken up. Control of Budrot disease of arecanut would be continued to be another item of work. (viii) Tea.—The Experimental Tea Plantation at three different locations have indicated feasibility of starting commercial tea cultivation in different parts ofthe State. > / Government is considering ways and means as to how best tea plan­ tation can*be started in the State for direct benefit of the local popula­ tion without involving a large-size labour force from outside the State. C. Horticulture Development.—The Major Horticultural Crops ofthe State are Pinegppie, Citrus (mostly Orange and Banana) in medium to low altitudes and a temperate stone fruits in higher altitudes. Pineapple.—^The emphasis would be given more on high density •planting with improved practices than general increase in area.. The production of Pineapple is expected to reach approximately 60,000 metric tonnes by the end ofthe 6th five yeaj plan agdinsc the piesent leyel, of 40,000 tnetric 1;onnes. ’ Citrus.^The emphasis would be given on two aspects:— (i) Rejuvenation of existing Orchards. (ii) Planting new' ai;ea under Orange, in a systematic way under scieiitific method with departmental supervision. It is proposed for rejuvenation of 500 hectares every year. This ii likely to increase in production by about 10 to 15 per cent. The new areas proposed to be covered under Citrus Plantation is 500' hectares per year. The new plantation would hardly have any effect in the production of citrus fruits during the plan period. Banana.—Emphasis will be given mainly on taking up improved methods of cultivation with selected varieties. During the Plan period 20 per cent increase in yield is contemplated. Temperate Fruits.—fMaLnly pears, plum and peach) ErophaiJs would be giv.en oa expansion of area in a systematic way. However inci*ease in area under Temperate Fruits would hardly have an y impact on production within the Plan period. Planting materials would be pro­ vided at 50 p^i- ceht subsidy to the farmers' for which existing nurseries Would also be strengthened- 3. Schemes for the Sixth FiVe Year Plan (1980-85).—The different scheines prop6sed to be implerilcrtted'under Agriculture sector during the Sixth Five-Yfear Plan period’are briefly described below: (a) Adnunistration Scheme:—The objj^ect of this scheme is to strengthen the administration at diiFcreni levels 'including the extension wing so as to enable the department to handle the increasing develop­ mental activities Mccessfully. (b) S^ed Multipli<pation and Distribution Sche:9i e :—’The^ scheme is meant Mainly ftr seed farms aVid seed testing laboratory.