National Food Security Mission

Introduction of the Scheme :

    Rice is a major food crop of the State occupying an average annual area of 1,10,891 Ha with a production of 3,30,392 MT and productivity of 2979 kg/ ha . Rice is grown in the region in a wide range of climatic conditions ranging from deep water to high altitudes. The requirement of varieties is also diverse as it is also grown in different seasons during the year. Considerable area under rice both in upland and lowland is rainfed. It is also grown under rainfed permanent area on terraced hills and flat lands usually bunded and by direct seeded method and in irrigated condition by Line Transplanting and SRI method with the Newly Released Varieties of HYV( Naveen, CAU R-1, Gomiti) and Hybrids (HY-6444. Loknath, SPH-115). Besides the newly released varieties HYV like Ranjeet and IR-64 are still giving good performance in the State.

    Pulses have not become widely popular in the State and occupy a smaller share in the area and production under food-grains. The annual average area is 8304 Ha with a production of 12,687 MT and the average yield of 1528 Kg/ Ha. The types of pulses grown in the State are Bengal gram, Black Gram, Green Gram, Soyabean and Pigeon Pea (also called Red gram or Arhar). Other pulses grown are Cowpea, Pea, Lentil and Rajma.

    Maize is another important food grain of the State occupying an average annual area of 18,128 Ha with a Production of 43,608 MT and the productivity of 2406 kg/ Ha. Composite varieties like Vijay and Hybrid like HQPM-1, PEHM-2, All Rounder, Big Boss are found to be favourable in lower, mid as well as higher altitude regions whereas the local improved varieties such as Local White and Local Yellow are quite popular in mid and higher altitude (above 800m M.S.L.) regions.

Introduction of the Scheme :

1. Increasing production of Rice, Wheat Pulses and Coarse Cereals through area expansion and productivity enhancement in a sustainable manner in the identified districts of the country.
2. Restoring soil fertility and productivity at the individual farm level.
3. Enhancing farm level economy (i.e. farm profits) to restore confidence amongst the farmers.

In order to achieve the above mentioned objectives, the Mission would adopt the following strategies:
1. Focus on low productivity and high potential districts including cultivation of food grain crops in rain fed areas.
2. Implementation of Cropping System centric interventions in a Mission mode approach through active engagement of all the stakeholders at various levels.
3. Agro-climatic zone wise planning and cluster approach for crop productivity enhancement.
4. Focus on Pulse production through utilization of rice fallow, rice bunds and intercropping of pulses with coarse cereals, oilseeds and commercial crops (Sugarcane, cotton, jute).
5. Promotion and extension of Improved Technologies i.e., seed, Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) including Micronutrients, soil amendments, Integrated Pest Management (IPM), input use efficiency and resource conservation technologies along with capacity building of the farmers/ extension functionaries.
6. Close monitoring of flow of funds to ensure timely reach of interventions to the target beneficiaries.
7. Integration of various proposed interventions and targets with the district plan of each identified district.
8. Constant monitoring and concurrent evaluation by the implementing agencies for assessing the impact of the interventions for a result oriented approach.

Impact of the Scheme in the previous years:

• Introduction of Quality and Newly Released seeds has increased the production and productivity of Rice through area expansion in the identified area of the District. As a result there is high demand of seeds by the farmers after observing the performance of these varieties.
• Introduction of new technology such as SRI etc has contributed to the doubling/trebling of yield of Paddy in the Farmers field which has brought much satisfaction to paddy grower and increase the potential of enhancing production through increase in area of cultivation under paddy.
• Construction of Check dam and water harvesting structures has enable farmers to improve crop through assured availability of moisture.
• Intervention through supply of pump sets and other water harvesting structures has opened the way for farmers to grow more crops. This has made possible for farmers in the lower altitude regions to go for Boro paddy cultivation raising the cropping intensity to 200% and increase in production and productivity.
• Intervention for lime application in iron toxicity areas has improved the paddy crop health raising the productivity by 30-50 % and enabled farmers to increase their production in the areas where Local Improved Variety of paddy such as MEG-II grown in the high altitude region.
• Various interventions proposed are being integrated which benefitted the farmers and increased their production.