Comprehensive District Annual Plan 2011-12 Balasore District

Comprehensive District Annual Plan 2011-12 Balasore District
populated district and people are educated, culturally active and socio economically developed.
They require an efficient transport and communication system as an integral part of their daily
needs. In addition to the above facts, natural calamities plays a destructive role in the district
by damaging road network almost every. Frequent occurrence of natural calamities damages
the roads every year. The elevation of rural roads in the district is very low and lack adequate
culverts, bridges for discharge of flood/rain water. As a result, during flood, the roads get
washed away disrupting communication. Keeping the problem in view, importance is being
given on design aspect of the roads being constructed in the district for the last several years.
Adequate drainage facilities with raised elevations are the major consideration in road designs.
Major issues identified in block level workshops conducted are lack of connectivity/good
quality roads, lack of safe drinking water, health and sanitation, provision of irrigation etc.
Keeping these issues in view, plan proposals have been finalized giving adequate emphasis to
lead sectors.
Agriculture and allied sectors are the main-stay of the district’s economy. It provides both
direct and indirect employment to the majority of the workforce (67%). The share of agriculture
in the district income is about 41% in the year 2001-02 which is more than the state share in
NSDP. In fact agriculture is the main source of livelihood of the population supplemented by
livestock rearing, fishery and horticulture. The district lack mineral resources and so also
major and medium industries. Hence, the rural population of the district mainly depends on
agriculture, fishery and other activities allied to agriculture for their livelihood.
Majority of the farmers are either marginal (67.98%) or small (22.11%) with less than 2 ha of
land. These two categories of farmers operate only 65% of total holdings. Percentage of large
and medium farmers (>4 ha) are very less in the district in comparison to state averages.
Average land holding size of the farmers is also very less, .i.e. 0.93 ha as against 1.25 ha in the
Orissa state. This is because of high population density in the district.
Balasore district is fairly irrigated. Out of the net area sown 55.58% is irrigated in Kharif
season and 42.02% in Rabi season. This is much higher than state figures, which is only
46.39% in kharif and 22.27% in rabi season.
In kharif season paddy is the principal crop with coverage of 91.81% of the total cropped area
in the season. This is followed by vegetable crops, chilies and jute. Similarly, in rabi season,
pulse crop like mung, biri and vegetables are the principal crop of the area. Sugarcane is
cultivated in 320 ha in the district. Mung and Biri are cultivated in available residual moisture
in the paddy field. Cultivation of cash crops like sunflower, groundnut, potato, onion, spices
etc. is marginal in the district. Paddy is cultivated in vast patches during kharif throughout
the district. In rabi season, paddy is cultivated only under irrigated conditions.
Regarding productivity of major crops cultivated in the district, productivity of kharif paddy is
10.98% lower than state average. Similarly, productivity of sweet potato, turmeric, maize,
garlic, Arhar, groundnut, jute, onion, wheat, castor, sunflower and sugarcane are lower than
state averages. But the yield rate of gram, mung, biri, Til, Mesta, Sunhemp, Ginger, field pae,
Mustard, coriander, potato, cowpea, etc. are marginally higher than state averages. This low
productivity in an important crop like paddy requires the attention of the agriculturists for
immediate intervention. Though natural calamity is one of the important reasons behind this,
yet strategies can be made to improve the productivity.
Balasore district is endowed with natural resources, adequate rainfall and suitable climate for
horticulture corp. Though not exploited to the extent possible, the agro-climatic condition of
the district is conducive for cultivation of different fruits, flowers and vegetables. The district is
covered under National Horticulture Mission (NHM), which is functioning in 19 districts of the
state. Because of proximity of the district to cities like Baripada (60 kms), Cuttack (190 kms),
Bhubaneswar (215 kms) and Kolkata (220 kms) and good road connectivity with these places,
there lies huge market potential for marketing of horticultural crops, mainly vegetables,
flowers and mushrooms.
As per the 17 th Livestock Census (2003), the density of cattle, pig and goat in the district is
higher than that of state averages. The density of cattle population in Balasore district is 235,
TSI: NABARD Consultancy Services (NABCONS) xii