Govt plans pulse cultivation in post-kharif fallow lands in Jharkhand

New Delhi: Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Development of North-Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh  informed Rajya Sabha Thursday that about 25-30% of post kharif rice fallow lands  of Jharkhand are found to be suitable for cultivation of short duration pulse crops during post kharif season.

Minister said that by using ISRO developed methodology, mapping and inventorying of Kharif rice area in Jharkhand is carried out by Mahalanobis National Crop Forecasting Centre (MNCFC).

According to the satellite data, total kharif rice area in Jharkhand estimate was 13.94 Lakh Ha  in 2016-17 but about 65-70% of Kharif rice area is left fallow during post kharif season. These areas mainly located in the districts like Ranchi, Gumla, Simdega, W. Singhbhum, Giridih, Koderma etc.

MNCFC has provided these data to local Government and department with locations and maps where farmers can maximise the utilisation of resources by taking up additional crop during the post kharif fallow period.