CONTINGENCY PLAN TO TACKLE POSSIBLE
ADVERSE IMPACT OF DROUGHT IN THE
AGRICULTURAL SECTOR OF KERALA STATEKHARIF 2015
R.AJITH KUMAR
DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE, KERALA
KERALA AT A GLANCE
• Location : `North
Latitude Between 8º 18' and 12º - 48‘
• East Longitude Between
74º - 52' and 77º - 22‘
KERALA AT A GLANCE
Total
Geographical Area
Net area sown
Area sown more
than once
3886287 Ha
2048109 Ha
543625 Ha
Total cropped area 2591734 Ha
Net area irrigated
457896 Ha
IRRIGATED AREA UNDER MAJOR CROPS ( , 000 HA)
Crop
Coconut
Spices
Paddy
Tubers
Arecanut
Banana
Vegetables
Sugar cane
Gross Cropped Area
778.60
351.60
234.00
101.30
99.20
99.10
43.40
2.90
All Crops
2695.00
Gross Irrigated Area Share Irrigated (%)
151.90
19.50
18.80
5.30
168.60
72.00
13.10
12.90
34.20
34.50
35.50
35.80
17.00
39.30
2.90
97.30
458.00
16.90
RAIN FALL (KHARIF-2014)
METEOROLOGICAL CENTRE
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM
1ST JUNE 2014 TO 30TH SEPTEMBER 2014
SUB DIVISION Actual Rainfall Normal Rainfall
Percentage Departure (%)
/DISTRICTS
(mm)
(mm)
KERALA
LAKSHADWEEP
2163.3
961
2039.7
998.5
6
-4
NORMAL
NORMAL
PRE-MONSOON RAINFALL 2014
METEOROLOGICAL CENTRE THIRUVANANTHAPURAM
1ST MARCH 2014 TO 31ST MAY 2014
SUB DIVISION Actual Rainfall
Normal
Percentage Departure (%)
/DISTRICTS
(mm)
Rainfall (mm)
KERALA
LAKSHADWEEP
364.4
76.7
1st
SUB DIVISION
/DISTRICTS
379.9
232.4
-4
-67
NORMAL
SCANTY
SEASON’S RAINFALL 2015
MARCH 2015 TO 27th MAY 2015
Actual Rainfall Normal Rainfall
Percentage Departure (%)
(mm)
(mm)
KERALA
431.3
337.2
28
LAKSHADWEEP
196.7
188.3
4
EXCESS
NORMAL
MONSOON IN KERALA
• Kerala receives rain fall through South-West
Monsoon(Jun-Sep) - 70%
• North- East monsoon(Oct-Dec) – 16.4%
• Pre Monsoon showers(Jan- May) – 13.6%
• Even though Kerala receives normal annual rainfall,
the monsoons in Kerala are characterized by heavy
rainfall with intermittent dry spells affecting the
agricultural practices.
CROP SITUATION (Kharif 2015)
Paddy:
• Kuttanad, Kole and Palakkad are the main Paddy growing areas.
• 70000 Ha are covered in the Kharif season.
• Sowing/ nursery preparation has started in 8000 Ha.
• As of date no estimated reduction in area coverage under paddy during
Kharif due to receipt of summer showers.
• Paddy cultivation in Kuttanad (Alappuzha district), Kole region
(Thrissur and Malappuram) are taken up in the lands below sea level
where drainage and salinity are major problems.
• About 1000 motor and pump sets (petti and para) are provided to these
regions for dewatering purpose.
• In Palakkad, paddy is mainly rainfed during Kharif.
• Approximately 40000 ha are irrigated during second crop season.
CROP SITUATION (Kharif 2015) contd
• COCONUT: Major crop cultivated in an area of 8 lakh Ha in the State.
Cultural operations including fertilizer application and intercultivation
operations are being carried out by farmers during the season.
• BANANA: Crop is in different stages of growth in the field.
• PEPPER: New planting and intercultural operations are being carried out
by pepper farmers.
• VEGETABLES: Crops are in different stages in the field. Normal
cultivation operations are carried out by farmers.
INPUT AVAILABILITY – KHARIF 2015
• Kerala requires 5600 MT paddy seeds during Kharif
season. Required quantity of seeds have been made
available to paddy farmers in all the 14 districts through
KSSDA established under Department of Agriculture.
• Duration of major paddy varieties preferred by farmers are– Jyothi ( 110-120 days)
– Uma (115-125 days)
– Kanchana (105-110 days)
– Red Triveni (100-105 days)
INPUT AVAILABITY DURING KHARIF
2015
SEEDS
• Kerala has buffer stock
of paddy seeds
available with KSSDA
Variety
FS-II (qtl.)
Certified
(qtl.)
Uma
320.10
9960.60
Jyothi
274.80
615.30
Kanchana
6.00
788.00
VTL-6
(pokkali)
--
51.90
600.90
11415.80
Total
INPUT AVAILABITY DURING KHARIF
2015 (contd)
• Procurement of seeds of short duration, drought/stress
tolerant paddy varieties from RSGP farmers in the state by
KSSDA is continuing.
• KSSDA has also taken measures to include short duration/
stress tolerant paddy varieties in the seed production
chain(Seed Rolling Plan).
• Vegetable seeds are also being procured and distributed by
KSSDA.
INPUT AVAILABITY DURING KHARIF
2015 (contd)
FERTILIZERS:
• Kerala has sufficient
allocation of fertilizers
FERTILIZER AVAILABITY DURING
KHARIF 2015 (April –May)
Fertilizers Receipts (MT) Sales (MT) Balance(MT)
DAP
5647
1232
4415
MOP
13401
6366
7035
NPK
14395
13340
1055
Urea
25344
13211
12133
INPUT AVAILABITY DURING KHARIF
2015 (contd)
POWER:
• Free electricity for agricultural purpose is
available for small and marginal farmers of the
State. At present there is no deficiency in this
sector.
CONTINGENCY PLAN
Measures suggested for entire state:
In the eventuality of delayed SW Monsoon and resultant
drought situation the below mentioned contingency plan has
been worked out.
• Buffer stock of 11415 qtl seeds are ensured for re sowing
through KSSDA.
• Initiated action for
de silting the ponds and
irrigation/drainage
channels
in
the
paddy
field(padasekharam) in about 2 lakhs ha with participation of
farmers utilizing the services of LSGD/MNREGS.
• Fertilizers are made available to farmers through local depots.
CONTINGENCY PLAN
CROP SPECIFIC SHORT TERM MEASURES:
PADDY:
• Direct seeding is propogated
instead of transplanting wherever
possible.
• Short duration drought tolerant
varieties are being provided to
farmers.
• Promoting irrigation during critical
stages instead of continuous
submergence.
CONTINGENCY PLAN
COCONUT AND ARECANUT
Homestead Farming is being
Promoted in Kerala
• Husk burial
• Organic mulching
• Green manuring
• Intercropping with banana
and tuber crops.
The above activities are
propogated through
Keragramam scheme on a
cluster based approach.
CONTINGENCY PLAN
BANANA
• Mulching
• Scientific irrigation
practices.
• Organic manuring
The above programmes are
being implemented through
SHM Schemes.
Vegetables and Tubers
CONTINGENCY PLAN
VEGETABLES AND TUBERS
• Open precision farming
• Organic manuring
• Drip irrigation
• Polyhouse farming for
vegetables (completed
1108 numbers of 40-400
sqm capacity).
CONTINGENCY PLAN
LONG TERM MEASURES
• Conservation of wetlands – enacted Kerala Conservation of
Paddy Land and Wet land Act , 2008.
• Promote cultivation of coarse cereals and pulses in district like
Palakkad. Action plan for coarse cereals in Palakkad for an
amount of Rs.4 lakhs has been submitted under NFSM to
Govt of India for approval .
CONTINGENCY PLAN
LONG TERM MEASURES
• Promoting micro irrigation.
Potential and Actual Area Under Micro Irrigation ( , 000 ha)
Potential Area
Actual Area
Drip
179
14.10
Sprinkler
35
2.50
Total
214
16.60
• Additional Financial support from Government of India is
requested for Promoting Micro-irrigation on a large scale
among the farmers of Kerala.
Promoting Polyhouse Farming
CONTINGENCY PLAN
LONG TERM MEASURES (contd)
Promoting Polyhouse farming Polyhouse farming is effectively done in Kerala.
 1108 polyhouses of size 40-400 sq.m are actively engaged in
crop production in Kerala.
 Major vegetables being cultivated in poly houses are Salad
Cucumber, Capsicum, Cow pea, Bhindi, Tomato etc
CONTINGENCY PLAN
LONG TERM MEASURES (contd)
• Under vegetable development programme, Department has implemented 896
units of micro irrigation with fertigation (0.2 ha each) last year. The scheme is
continuing this year also.
•
Installed 2256 irrigation pump sets and constructed 398 irrigation wells
covering an area of 265.4 Ha
• Implemented 227 units of Rain shelter units for vegetable cultivation last year.
• Soil health card and fertilizer advisory-
Department of Agriculture has
initiated a project in 2010 , whereby 2 lakh surface soil samples were collected
from farmers fields and soil test data transmission through ICT applications
ensured.
Promotion of Organic Farming
CONTINGENCY PLAN
LONG TERM MEASURES (contd)
Promotion of ORGANIC FARMING:
 Department of Agriculture has already initiated Organic farming in selected districts.
Organic farming policy was declared in 2010 in Kerala State.
Subsequently Red and Yellow coloured pesticides were banned in the State.
 At present organic farming is being carried out in 6000 Ha (Kasargod district ) and
5800 Ha (Wayanad district) . In addition , an area of 14279 ha is covered under organic
farming through SHM scheme and 5500Ha through VFPCK schemes.
CONTINGENCY PLAN
LONG TERM MEASURES (contd)
Promotion of Crop Insurance (NCIP)
 During 2014-15 MNAIS was implemented for Paddy,
Tapioca and Banana .
 During 2014-15 WBCIS was implemented for Paddy,
Banana, Pepper , Ginger , Turmeric, Pineapple,
Cardamom, Sugarcane, Arecanut, Nutmeg, Cashew and
Mango.
 During 2015-16,It is proposed to cover more area under
NCIP so that maximum farmers are benefitted.
 A Comprehensive Paddy Insurance Scheme by integrating
with MNAIS and WBCIS is proposed to be implemented
from 2015-16 where additional premium subsidy will be
met by Government of Kerala.
MAJOR INITIATIVES UNDER TAKEN FOR MITIGATION OF
DROUGHT (Department of Soil Conservation)
MAJOR INITIATIVES UNDER TAKEN FOR MITIGATION OF
DROUGHT (Department of Soil Conservation)
• Renovated 129 ponds expending an amount of Rs.15.31
crores in Pathanamthitta, Kottayam and Alappuzha (13th FC)
• Renovated 2837 wells for Rs.15.37 crores in Pathanamthitta,
Kottayam and Alappuzha
• Constructed 3550 Nos of logwood/masonry/concrete/ loose
boulder check dams for Rs. 10.35 Crores in Wayanad
MAJOR INITIATIVES UNDER TAKEN FOR MITIGATION OF
DROUGHT (Department of Soil Conservation)
• Construction of 50 water harvesting Structures, 150 nos of Spring
water collection/rain water harvesting structures/ ring ponds- 13.5
Crores under NABARD assisted RIDF project in 126 watersheds.
• 25 water harvesting structures under eco restoration programme
for vulnerable Tribal Colonies in Thrissur, Palakkad, Malappuram,
Wayanad and Kasargod – Rs.1.50 Crores.
MAJOR INITIATIVES UNDER TAKEN FOR MITIGATION OF
DROUGHT (Department of Soil Conservation)
• For augmenting vegetable cultivation in Kanthallur and
Vattavada
in
Idukki
5
nos
of
waterharvesting
structures/checkdams constructed- Rs.50 lakhs
• 15 water harvesting structures/ponds in Mullankolly, Pulpally
and Koothadi panchayats in Wayanad district with RKVY
funding- Rs.63 lakhs
MAJOR INITIATIVES PROPOSED FOR MITIGATION OF
DROUGHT (Department of Soil Conservation)
2015-16 projects
• Proposal for renovation of 56 ponds in Palakkad district for
Rs.15.76 Crores is under consideration by NABARD
• Soil conservation activities proposed for Rs. 30 Crores in 120
RIDF projects through out the State.
MAJOR INITIATIVES PROPOSED FOR MITIGATION OF
DROUGHT (Department of Soil Conservation)
2015-16 projects
• Renovation of 250 ponds for Rs.10.68 crores and renovation
of wells for Rs.1.52 Crores is nearing completion under
Kuttanad package.
•
45 water harvesting structures/ponds in Mullankolly, Pulpally
and Koothadi panchayats in Wayanad district with RKVY
funding- Rs.2.61 Crores.
MAJOR INITIATIVES PROPOSED FOR MITIGATION OF
DROUGHT (Department of Soil Conservation)
2015-16 projects
• Under NMSA 9 nos of water harvesting structures in Kannur,
Wayanad and Thrissur districts for Rs. 100 lakhs.
All the soil and water conservation activities aim at insitu
conservation of rainwater and helps in reducing the impact of
drought.
Assistance anticipated from
Government of INDIA
• For promoting micro irrigation
Rs.50 Crores
• Sahasra Sarovar – Renovation of Ponds in 1000
Panchayaths of the state
Rs.250 Crores
• Deepening of irrigation/Drainage Channels in and
around padasekharams (wet lands under Paddy
cultivation) in an area of 2.00 lakh Ha
Rs.300 Crores
THANK YOU