RA 00048.pdf - OAR@ICRISAT

T a b l e 7 . P h y s i c a l a n d g r o s s f i n a n c i a l r e t u r n s o n s o r g h u m o n t h e basis o f prices e f f e c t i v e f r o m 8 J u n e 1 9 8 0 .
Kg of grain required
t o b u y 1 kg
of n u t r i e n t
G r o s s financial r e t u r n s
o n e v e r y r u p e e i n v e s t e d
o n fertilizer
N u t r i e n t P a d d y W h e a t S o r g h u m Paddy W h e a t S o r g h u m
N
4 . 5 8
3.72
5.12
2.62
3.23
1.09
P 2O 5
5.19
4.21
5.80
1.35
1.66
0.69
(as DAP)
K 2O
1.93
1.56
2.15
2.10
3.20
5 . 3 4
S o u r c e : F A I 1 9 8 0 . P a g e s 7 2 - 7 4 i n A n n u a l r e v i e w o f fertiliser c o n s u m p t i o n a n d p r o d u c t i o n 1 9 7 9 - 8 0 .
ha w o u l d be under irrigation in 1 9 8 6 / 8 7 . By 1985,
as projected by t h e NCA, irrigated s o r g h u m w o u l d
be 1.5 million ha (NCA 1976e). It is seen that as
m u c h as 9 million ha of s o r g h u m is in adequate
rainfall regions and 7 million ha in l o w rainfall
regions (NCAER 1979). In irrigated and adequate
rainfall areas, there is no d o u b t about the advantages
of using fertilizers. Even in l o w rainfall areas,
t h e response to fertilizers has been s h o w n to be
e n o u g h a n d economical. W h a t is n e e d e d therefore
is to intensify t h e extension efforts to
convince t h e farmers about t h e advantage of
using fertilizers. The quality and n u m b e r of demonstrations
are not adequate e n o u g h to give a
g o o d coverage in all the tracts.
Supplemental Irrigation
Stabilization of s o r g h u m production is possible by
providing supplemental irrigation t h r o u g h various
m e a s u r e s . The possibilities have to be explored
and utilized. O n e of t h e m e a s u r e s is to divert
s o m e o f t h e w a t e r resources, n o w being used for
raising paddy under irrigation, to l o w and m e d i u m
rainfall areas. The n e e d and s c o p e for harvesting
and storing rain w a t e r , for use during critical
periods in adequate rainfall areas as w e l l as in l o w
rainfall areas, are e m i n e n t . Technologically, it has
b e e n s h o w n that t h e scope for increasing as w e l l
as stabilizing t h e yields are t r e m e n d o u s in all the
rainfed zones in general, and t h e l o w rainfall zones
in particular, by adopting t h e f a r m p o n d technique.
Problems in t h e construction of storage p o n d s
and in lifting and using t h e w a t e r s t o r e d are still to
be resolved. As stated earlier, t h e holdings are not
of an appropriate size and shape to facilitate laying
of plots for harvesting and storing rain water. The
contrivances needed for lifting and applying w a t e r
are not easily available.
The investments needed on t h e construction of
ponds and on contrivances for lifting w a t e r are
quite heavy for dryland farmers to bear. Credit
facilities and also technical help n e e d e d in this
regard are not easily available. As a result, soil and
w a t e r conservation measures are restricted to
contour bunding only. Follow-up action for p o p u ­
larizing agronomic practices that go w i t h c o n t o u r
bunding is not vigorous. As a result, t h e use of
fertilizers in dry-farming areas is minimal although
farmers are convinced of t h e advantages of
improving
t h e fertility status of soils t h r o u g h
judicious use of manures and fertilizers. Unless
t h e s e handicaps are remedied, it will be difficult to
achieve t h e level of production required to be
achieved in t h e 1980s and by the e n d of t h e
century.
Use of Chemicals
for Plant Protection
In recent years, chemicals are b e c o m i n g increasingly
important as an input for raising agricultural
production in India. The plant protection m e t h o d s
used before t h e year 1950 consisted mainly of
cultural and mechanical m e t h o d s , although chemicals
w e r e used for seed t r e a t m e n t and for
controlling certain pests and diseases on s o m e
cash crops like vegetables. In 1 9 5 5 / 5 6 t h e quantity
of chemicals used w a s about 16 g / h a and by
1 9 7 4 / 7 5 it had increased to 180 g / h a as against
10 7 9 0 in Japan, 1480 in t h e USA and 1870 in
Europe (NCA 1976f). In 1971 / 7 2 t h e total quantity
of chemicals used in t h e country for protecting
6 8 5