Bikash Kumar Pati
The geographical area of Odisha is 1,55,707 sqkm, with cultivable area of about 65.59 lakh hectares. It has been assessed that about 49.90 lakh hectares can be brought under irrigation. But by the end of 2005-06 about 27.31 lakh hectares (44.29 per cent) of land was brought under irrigation, out of which 45.4per cent was covered through major and medium irrigation, 18.8 per cent through minor, 14.3 per cent by minor irrigation and the balance 21.5 per cent were irrigated through other sources. Odisha is the tenth largest State in India as per the 2001 census. Its population is 368.05 lakh, which is about 3.58 per cent of the population of the country.
The agriculture sector plays an important role in the State’s economy. According to the 2001 census, out of 142.76 lakh workers, 9,589 lakh are main workers and 4,687 lakh are marginal workers. Out of 46.87 per cent lakh marginal workers, 8.12 lakh (17.3 per cent) were cultivators, 29.01 lakh (61.9 per cent) were agricultural labourers, 2.9 lakh (6.3 per cent) workers were engaged in household industries and 6.76 lakh (14.4 per cent) were other workers of which cultivator and agricultural labourers together were 37.13 per cent. It shows that majority of the population has been dependent on agriculture and allied activities. Therefore, agriculture and allied activities play an important role in the State’s economy. However, the share of agriculture and animal husbandry in the Gross State Domestic Product has remained comparatively low, around 23.43 per cent. It is therefore necessary to increase the agriculture production and productivity of the crops, which form the major basis of the rural development.
Agriculture is the process of producing food, feed, fodder, fibre and other goods by the systematic raising of plants and animals. The history of agriculture is closely linked with human history and agricultural developments have been crucial factors in social change including the specialisation of human activity. Forty-two percent of the world’s labourers are employed in agriculture, making it by far the most common occupation. Agricultural production accounts for less than 5 per cent of the gross world product.
Agriculture and animal husbandry contributed 23.43 per cent of the Net Domestic Product of Odisha in 2005-06 (A) at the 1993-94 prices and provided employment directly or indirectly to around 65 per cent of the total workforce as per the 2001 census. The per capita availability of cultivated land was 0.39 hectares in 1950-51 and has declined to 0.14 hectares during 2004-05. Development of agriculture in the State has lagged due to several constraints.
The percentage of cultivators to main workers has decreased from 57 per cent in 1960 to 44 per cent in 1990. By contrast, the percentage of agricultural labourers to main workers has increased from 17 per cent in 1960 to 29 per cent in 1990. Thus, in a span of three decades the ratio of agricultural labourers to cultivators has increased substantially from about 3:7 in 1960 to 6.5:3.5 in 1990. This is primarily due to increase in landlessness or near landlessness on account of population growth and subdivision of land holdings among legal heirs. As the pace of industrialisation in the State is still slow, agriculture continues to provide sources of livelihood to a significant segment of population. Therefore, agricultural growth holds the key to the overall development of the State by way of creating employment, generating income, providing raw materials to the industrial sector and, last but not the least, ensuring self-reliance in food production and food security to the deprived sections.
On the water front, the State claims that it has got perennial river systems, but most of the rivers are unable to provide water for domestic consumption during the dry season. The ayacut of most of the irrigation structures is shrinking.
Although the groundwater potential has not been exploited beyond 15 per cent, there are no adequate studies on the recharging of groundwater and its real potential; we have been referring to studies done before 10 years. Of course, the State is rich in minerals, extraction of which is dearer to the environmental stability and livelihood of millions.
Pollution of air and water and degradation of land because of mines and industries is on the rise; the best example lies with the Talcher-Angul industrial area, which is rated among the country’s 14 hot spots for environmental pollution.
The long coastline of more than 400 km provides ample opportunities for fishing and other maritime activities. Erosion of beaches because of excessive human-sea interactions, poor drainage, heavy siltation, intensive fishing using mechanised boats and gears, etc, are some of the characteristics of resource use.
Pollution of seawater and fluctuations in the fish catch has added worries to the livelihood of the fisherman folk. The present trend in resource use is very much in favour of the industrial/corporate interests and acts detrimental to the subsistence of the poor.
Although the share of agriculture to State income has fallen badly and it is no more a prime factor for the State’s economy when compared to the growth of service sector, the rural population still predominantly depends on agriculture and allied activities. Failure in agriculture, which has become a common phenomenon, adds to their misery and vulnerability.
Since 1991-92, the year that had a bumper food grain production of 72 lakh tonnes, the production of food grains is gradually on the decline. During 1998-99 the food grain production remained as low as 58 lakh tonnes. Currently, the State is facing a severe drought and crop production will fall further.
The writer is a researcher with the Regional Centre for Development Cooperation, Bhubaneswar.
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