MANUAL-1  

Particulars of Organization, Functions & Duties

[Section-4 (1) (b) (i)]

Introduction

        The emphasis laid on Agriculture in the 11^th Five Year Plan underscores the importance of Agriculture to the economy of the country. This applies more accurately to our State as nearly 70% of the population of the State depend on agriculture for their livelihood. Agriculture sector contributes nearly 28% to the State's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and employs over 70% of the workforce. Increase in agricultural production and farm productivity is essential for providing food security to the vast majority of the population and achieving any significant growth in the income levels of the people. Agriculture being a State subject under constitution the State is mandated to work for development of agricultural activities in the State, with increase in production and productivity of various agro- horticultural crops, thereby increasing income of farmers of the State.

      The natural resources endowment of the State is eminently suitable for a wide variety of food grains, cash crops and horticultural crops and offers immense scope for agricultural growth. The climate of the State is tropical, characterized by high temperature, high humidity, medium to high rainfall and short mild winter. The average annual rainfall is 1482.2 mm which is distributed over 72 rainy days. South-West monsoon contributes about 81-83% of annual rainfall in 53-57 days during June-September. The mean annual temperature of the State is 26.89° C with mean annual maximum of 32.56°C and mean annual minimum of 21.30° C. From the physiographic point of view, the State is divided into four Zones, viz:

1. The Northern Plateau.
2. The Eastern Ghat zone.
3. The Central Table lands. 
4. The Coastal zone.

        On the basis of climate, soil, rainfall, topography and cropping patterns the State has been delineated into ten Agro-Climatic Zones as given in Annexure-I [See Page No. 18].

Budgetary Support to the Development

      The Department's field organization is supported by the Non-Plan budget of the State Government. Strategic interventions for increasing production and productivity of various crops and Watershed Development Programmes are supported by budgetary provision mainly under various Centrally Sponsored Plan Schemes. Budgetary support for investment subsidy on private Tube-wells and Bore-wells and capital investment subsidy on Agro-enterprises and several other important programmes are provided under the State Plan. The horticultural development activities are mainly taken up under "National Horticulture Mission" since August'2005 in the State. The State Government provides budgetary support for development of horticulture in Non-Mission Districts under the State Plan. Several other strategic interventions in agriculture and horticulture are supported by State Plan. An ambitious watershed development programme is supported under CSP, Macro Management of Agriculture IWDP, DPAP, Biju KBK Yojana and WORLP.

      The Department received a Non-Plan Budget provision of Rs.210.04 Crores which included Rs.28.33 Crores as Grant-in-aid to OUAT and a State Plan Budget of Rs.109.78 Crores including ACA of Rs. 18.40 Crores for KBK under RLTAP during 2007-08. Besides, under CSP scheme it received Rs.32.32 Crores under Work Plan, Rs.7.50 Crores under ISOPOM, Rs. 1.24 Crores under ICDP(Cotton), Rs.12.33 Crores under Support to State Extension Reforms programme. It also received Rs.6.19 Crores under National Food Security Mission (NFSM) and Rs.39.30 Crors under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) and Rs.0.938 Crores under CDB towards Central Share. The State has received Rs 38.12 Crores from Government of India under National Horticulture Mission against the programme of Rs 109.49 Crores for carrying out horticulture activities in 24 Mission districts of the State.

      A State Plan provision of Rs.199.20 Crores has been made for 2008-09 which includes Rs. 5.00 Crores for Special Programme for KBK. Central allocation of 43.76 Crores have been provided in 2008-09 towards Central Share of CSP Schemes like Work Plan, ISOPOM, National Horticulture Mission (NHM), etc & Rs 13.51 Crores towards CP schemes. The Department operates through Directorate of Agriculture, Directorate off Horticulture, Directorate of Soil Conservation and Orissa Watershed Development Mission.

Activities of the Directorate of Agriculture

       The Directorate of Agriculture provides a host of extension services and carries out a number of crop-specific programmes. The activities are taken up mostly under the Work Plan for Macro-Management of Agriculture, the Integrated Scheme for Oilseeds, Pulses and Maize (ISOPOM) , Intensive Cotton Development Programme (ICDP) scheme for Cotton and Jute Technology Mission(Mini Mission -II). The physical and financial achievements during 2007-08 and programme for 2008-09 under the Work Plan, ISOPOM and ICDP are at Annexure-II, Annexure -III and Annexure-IV respectively. Besides, many of the agricultural activities are also being taken up under newly launched programme like C.M.'s package, Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana(RKVY) and National Food Security Mission(NFSM).