Orissa's Economy & other stuff.

Is KBK really backward??

2009-02-01T21:59:00.001-08:00

I will put some stats together in a series of posts to find out if KBK really a backward region?

As per 2001 census date Literacy rate in Orissa is 63 % and for India figure is 64.8%.Red line in the chart denotes the average literacy rate in Orissa.As you can clearly see in the charts the vaiation in literacy rate at state level is markedly high.KBK region fares the worst and coastal region has the best literacy rates.

NREGA performance

2009-01-31T21:15:00.000-08:00

"Although Prasad is eager to ensure that all the estimated 5 crore families to be provided jobs under the scheme get their savings bank accounts, there are many states like Bihar, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh which have been slow in opening accounts. Data indicate that only 10% of the wages to workers under the NREGA is paid through savings bank accounts in West Bengal. In case of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Bihar, the figures are 53%, 11% & 19%, respectively.

At the same time, states like Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Kerala and Uttaranchal have virtually stopped cash payment of wages by providing banking facilities to all workers under the scheme. Even in states like Jharkhand, Rajasthan and Orissa, the percentage of total wages being paid through bank accounts are 76%, 72% and 67%, respectively. "

While 67% is laudable, question for the govt is why are we not at 100% and leading the charts??

Source:Business Standard

Railway route length - A comparative chart

2009-01-31T14:59:00.001-08:00

Source:Indian Govt

Current GDP per Capita for Orissa based on figures available from RBI

2009-01-29T21:19:00.000-08:00

States GDP per Capita in Rs
Jharkhand Rs 20,177
Rajastan Rs 22,649
Orissa Rs 22,630
India (Average) Rs 32,013
Andhra Pradesh Rs 34,063
Karnataka Rs 32,563
Punjab Rs 44,411
Haryana Rs 56,821

Medical Colleges: a comparative chart

2009-01-24T11:18:00.000-08:00

Source:Deptt of Health, Govt of India

Source:Kerela healthcare deptt

Source:Orissa Govt

Above chart should make it abundantly clear why we are behind other states in terms of Medical care.Kerala with a population below Orissa has 3 times more medical colleges and 10 times more hospital beds/1000 people.No wonder they continue to top the HRD rankings among all states.We have much catching up to do.State Govt must continue to build more medical facilities so that we can be the best in the country, not the worst.

Orissa farmers get Agriculture Bhagabat in Oriya

2009-01-17T10:40:00.000-08:00

Alekh Parida, a marginal farmer of Madhupur village under Chandaka police station in Orissa's Khurda district, for a change, sprinkled pesticide on the basal region of the standing paddy. Littlie did he know that it would work wonder for the plants.

For all these years, he, like hundreds of other farmers, was accustomed to apply pesticides on the upper portion of the plants. Now the new methodology has made the crop areas wear luxuriant look.

It is no surprise that the production has shot up. Take the case of Tilak Dehury, they are all marginal farmers, even ignored growing of certain weeds along side the paddy plants being little aware of the fact that they cause more harm than good to the plants.

How did they come to know the basics of diseases and use of pesticides?

...More at

Source:Kalinga Times

Investment per Capita , Orissa vis-a-vis other states

2009-01-11T20:53:00.000-08:00

"Every quarter the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE) tracks all investment projects presently under implementation. This is a useful resource for measuring inter-state variation in investment. Investment is the foundation of future income growth, so this data shows a sense of how different states will fare in the future. In addition, changes in the performance of states in this regard measure the success or failure of the political leadership in creating a business environment that is supportive of investment." ... writes Illa Pattnaik.

Source: full column by Illa Pattnaik

Emu farming , super lucrative

2009-01-11T14:00:00.000-08:00

Watch you tube video: Emu Farming reaping rich rewards

Read article on livemint on Emu farming in India

Wheat productivity of Orissa vis-a-vis other states

2009-01-11T11:27:00.000-08:00

Fertlizer Consumption in Orissa vis-a-vis other states

2009-01-11T10:48:00.000-08:00

If we compare the fertlizer consumption in Orissa with other states and compare the crop productivity at the same time, we can clearly see a similar pattern emerge.Question policy makers need to ask is if usage of fertlizer leads to higher productivity, why the usage of fertilizer is so low?? Does the farmers have access to loans at low interest rate?? What is their rate of return ?? Is the rate of return on capital expenditure high enough for sustaining the farming enterprise?? Where are we going wrong??

GDP per capita and rice yield productivity (Orissa vis-a-vis other states)

2009-01-10T22:20:00.000-08:00

Following is a chart of rice yield rates of Orissa in comparison with Other top productivity states.The contrast couldn't have been greater.The question policy maker need to ask is How could we lag behind in productivity in such large extent.One can explain a difference in productivity of 10-20%.When the difference is way over 100% there is serious lack of know-how & facilities.

source:Orissa Deptt. Of Agriculture

I put the chart of per capita income of the same states used for comparing the rice productivity.It's pretty clear from both charts that Orissa's backwardness in agriculture productivity is one of the reasons for it's for it's poor perfomance in the GDP per capita rankings.

From IIT to Farming

2009-01-10T12:40:00.000-08:00

Source: rediff.com / From IIT to a FARMER

My first farm land

After 4 years, I saved enough money to buy six acres of land. I bought land at Chengelpet near Chennai.

I chose that land because the plot had access to road and water. Back in 1989, a man in a pair of trousers aroused curiosity among the farming community. That was not the image of a farmer!

Tough beginning as a farmer

I became a full fledged farmer in 1993. It was tough in the beginning. Nobody taught me how to farm. There was no guidance from the gram sevaks or the University of Agriculture.

I ran from pillar to post but couldn't find a single scientist who could help me. I burnt my fingers. My first crop was paddy and I produced 2 tonnes from the six acres of land, it was pathetic.

When I lost all my money, my father said I was stupid. I told him, it didn't matter as I was learning. It was trial and error for me for three years. Until 1997, I was only experimenting by mingling various systems.

Going to Israel to learn

In 1996, I visited Israel because I had heard that they are the best in water technology. Take the case of corn: they harvest 7 tonnes per acre whereas we produce less than a tonne.

They harvest up to 200 tonnes of tomatoes, whereas here it is 6 tonnes, in similar area of land. I stayed in one of the kibbutz, which is a co-operative farm for 15 days.

I understood what we do is quite primitive. It was an eye opener for me. They treat each plant as an industry. A plant producing one kilo of capsicum is an industry that has 1 kilo output.

I learnt from them that we abuse water. Drip irrigation is not only for saving water but it enhances your plant productivity. We commonly practice flood irrigation where they just pump water. As per the 2005 statistics, instead of 1 litre, we use 750 litres of water.

Dr Lakshmanan, my guru

Imet Dr Lakshmanan, a California-based NRI, who has been farming for the last 35 years on 50-60,000 acres of land.

He taught me farming over the last one decade. Whatever little I have learnt, it is thanks to him.

I knew a farm would give me much better returns in terms of money as well as happiness. Working for money and working for happiness are different. I work and get happiness. What more do you need?

No guidance in India

I said at one platform that we have to change the curriculum of the agricultural universities. What they teach the students is not how to farm, but how to draw loans from a bank!

What they learn cannot be transformed to reality or to the villages. The problem in the villages is not mentioned in the university. There is a wide gap and it is getting worse.

Making profits

After burning my fingers for four years, from 1997 onwards, I started making profits.

Even though it took me four years, I did not lose hope. I knew this was my path ven though I didn't have any guidance from anyone.

In those days, communication was slow. Today, I can get guidance from Dr Lakshmanan on Skype or Google Talk, or through e-mail.

I send him the picture of my problem and ask his guidance. In those days, it took time to communicate. There was no Internet or connectivity.

That was why it took me four years to learn farming. Today, I would not have taken more than six months or even less to learn the trick!

The farming cycle

I started crop rotation after 1997. In August, I start with paddy and it is harvested in December.

I plant vegetables in December itself and get the crops in February. After that, it is oil seeds like sesame and groundnut, which are drought-resistant, till May.

During May, I go on trips to learn more about the craft. I come back in June-July and start preparations on the land to get ready for August. In 1999, I bought another four acres. My target is a net income of Rs 100,000 per annum per acre. I have achieved up to Rs 50,000.

Selling the products

I sell my produce on my own. I have a jeep and bring what I produce to my house and sell from there. People know that I sell at home. I don't go through any middle man.

I take paddy to the mill, hull it and sell it on my own. In the future, I have plans to have a mill too. These days, people tell me in advance that they need rice from me. I have no problem selling my produce.

Engineering helps in farming

More than any other education, engineering helps in farming because toiling in the soil is only 20 per cent of the work. About 80 per cent of farming needs engineering skills.

Science is a must for any farming. I have developed a number of simple, farmer-friendly tools for farming areas like seeding, weeding, etc. as we don't have any tools for small farmers.

If I have 200 acres of land, I can go for food processing, etc. My next project is to lease land from the small farmers for agriculture. The village will prosper with food processing industries coming there. My yield will also be more with more land.

Abdul Kalam visits the farm

Dr Abdul Kalam visited my farm when he was the President, after hearing about what I was doing. He spent around two hours on my farm.

During his visit, he said: "We need not one, but one million Madhavans!"

If I am able to inspire or create even one entrepreneur, I will be very happy, because that is what Dr Kalam wished me to do.

Helpful Links:

Dr LUX LAKHSMANAN

ACMF

Cash Crop farming

2009-01-10T11:38:00.001-08:00

Source: Tathya.com/ Strawberry brings smile

A total of 13 farmers have successfully grown strawberries in Lanjigarh area.

Vedanta Aluminium, under its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Initiatives provided technical assistance, training, guidance and agricultural inputs like seeds, organic manure, training etc.

Around 70,000 runners were planted in 3.5 acres of land.

The CSR team of Vedanta carried out regular monitoring and supervision of the field for better yield and production.

The CSR team organized training and awareness sessions to convince and educate the farmers about the benefits and feasibility of the project in this area.

“We had never thought about producing Strawberry. With the support of Vedanta we started cultivating strawberry in our field, said Kataru Majhi.We are really astonished on seeing the fruits of Strawberry grown by us.

Strawberry, being a cash crop, the profit earned from it is much higher than that of their regular produce.

The red fleshy fruit also has a huge commercial viability, based on its demand in the market.

It has increased the present earnings of farmers by Rs. 50000 – 75000 per acre.

Vedanta is linking up the products with different markets that are commercially viable.

It is in the process of negotiation with some of the leading super markets and hotels to sell the produce.

My comment:

80% or orissa population still lives in rural areas.Most of them depend upon agriculture for their livelihood.Orissa's GDP per capita is 22,000 approximately based on current prices.Adopting cash crops and building a market for it will lead to rising incomes in rural areas, aiding economic growth.I will at a later point of time will assess the impact of 50,000 rupees extra income per acre on rural economy and state economy.Watch this blog for more to come on this topic.

SRI farming in orissa ...

2009-01-10T10:27:00.000-08:00

Source: Tahya.com/ SRI farming to be promoted by Nalco

Productivity of rice in kilogram per hectare(kg/ha) is much less in Orissa than the all India average.

Reeling out stats he said in 2006-07 rice productivity was 1557 kg/ha in Orissa, while the country’s average is 2084 kg/ha.
In 2007-08 it rose to 1712 kg/ha in Orissa with all India average at 2203 kg/ha.

NALCO will be promoting rice production in an intensified manner.
NALCO to promote the System of Rice Intensification (SRI) farming in Orissa.

The brain behind this new program is Arabinda K Padhee, Director Agriculture & Food Production of Orissa. Dr.Padhee, him self a Ph.D in Agriculture is the most suitable mandarin for the job.

My Comments:

Rice productivity in Orissa is 30% behind the national average.
Orissa GDP per capita is 22000 at current prices while national average is 29000.
If orissa can catch up on crop productivity level it can bridge the per capita income gap
within 3-5 years time.