SOURCES OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIVITy GROWTH IN ORISSA: A DISTRICT LEVEL ANALySIS

The extent of India’s regional disparities has been an issue since many decades, and \nthis concern has been partly motivated by a desire to alleviate poverty (Datt and \nRavallion, 1996). Agriculture remains an important feature of the economic, cultural \nand political landscape in India. Orissa is one of the poorest states in India. Over \nthe last four decades, there has been stagnation in agriculture in Orissa. During \nthe period 1991 to 2008 the growth rate of agriculture in Orissa is lower than all- \nIndia. Orissa agriculture is highly concentrated in low productive and high waterconsuming \npaddy cultivation with little diversification towards pulses, oilseeds and \nother high value crops (HVCs: included Sugarcane, fruits and vegetables etc., which \nfetch higher net returns). It is also characterized by low use of fertilizer, energy \nand irrigation per unit area compared to other states. There is a need for increase \nin area under certified seed, irrigation and other productivity-enhancing inputs to \nincrease farmers’ income in all crops. There are perceptible regional disparities \nwith the Coastal Plain having a distinct advantage in agricultural production \ncompared to the Central Table Land region, Northern Plateau and Eastern Ghats \nregions as better initial socio-economic conditions in the Coastal plains in 1971 \nare having positive influence in growth in later years. Significant income gains are \npossible through crop diversification from paddy to pulses, oilseeds and HVCs in \nupland rain fed areas in kharif (rainy) season, if proper drainage, institutional and \npolicy support is provided in Eastern Ghats and Northern Plateau of Orissa.