Main Activities of Agriculture Department Kurukshetra (Haryana)

Kurukshetra district came into existence as a result of reorganization of Karnal district in 1973. The District, however was again reorganized in 1989 giving birth to Kaithal district. Its Location on world map is 76⁰ 31’-77⁰11’ E longitude and 29⁰ 51’- 30⁰ 14’ N latitude. There are two sub divisions namely Thanesar and Pehowa and five blocks i.e Thanesar, Ladwa, Babain, Shahabad and Pehowa.

The total geographical area of the district is 168253 hectares. The cultivated area is 150305 hectares, which is 89.3% of the geographical area. The soils of the district are fairly fertile and leveled and are fit for every type of crop. The pH of the district ranges from 7.5 to 8.5. Paddy and Sugarcane are the major crops of Kharif season whereas Wheat and Sunflower are of Rabi season. The total cropped area (2004-05) is 2.76 lakh hectares. The average rainfall of the district is 550 MM (Last six years). The major amount of rains is received during the month of July, August and September. The entire cultivated area is irrigated and the main source of irrigation is Tube wells. The canal irrigated area is only 8500 hectares.

INFRASTRUCTURE OF AGRICULTURE DEPARTMENT.

To meet the farmers needs pertaining to Agriculture, the department has different sub section in the district. The details given below:-

1. Extension Wing:- It meets the crop technology needs of the farmers by way of fields visits, training, demonstration, minikits trials and “On Farm Trials” etc. Fields days and Kisan Gosti and seminars are also organized time to time need bases. The wing also undertakes the activity of installation of Biogas Plants to meet the fuel requirement as well as organic manure for soil health.

2. Plant Protection wing:- Pest surveillance and their control through IPM is undertaken by this wing. Rodent control campaigns are also organized. Post harvest technology in term of safe storage of food grains, distribution of metallic bins is provided.

3. Soil testing:- Soil and water samples are tested free of cost to facilitate the judicious use of nutrients and irrigation water. Soil health card are also provided to the farmers.

4. Soil conservation Section:- In order to conserve the natural resources like soil and water, the activities namely distribution of gypsum on 50% subsidy, construction of underground water channels and land leveling are undertaken.

5. Ground Water cell:- Accessing the quality and level of under ground water is done by this wing. At present the water table of the district ranges from 22 to 28.6 M.

6. Agriculture Engineering Section:- Boring of Tube wells, distribution of Agricultural implements on subsidized rates and maintenance of biogas plants are the major functions of this section.

7. Cane development section:- This section concentrates on cane development work to meet the cane requirement of sugar mills. The major activities are laying out of Demonstration plots, IPM, Ratoon Management, organization of farmer training camps, field days, Inspection of Gur & Khandsari units and checking of sugarcane weighbridge.

8. Allied Agencies:- Agencies like HSDC, Hafed, HAIC, HLRDC, Mini Banks, IFFCO and KRIBHCO provide the Agricultural inputs to the farmers. Agency wise No. of outlets are as under:-

S.No. Agency No. of outlets.

1. HSDC 4

2. HAFED 4

3. HAIC 2

4. HLRDC 3

5. IFFCO 4

6. KRIBHCO 2

7. MINI BANKS 105

Agriculture Statistics:-

S.No.	Particulars	Hectares /Nos.
1	Geographical Area	168253 Hect.
2	Area under forest	695
3	Barren & Uncultivable land	817
4	Agriculture Waste Land	163
5	Current Fallow	65
6	Total Cultivable Area	150305
7	Cultivated Area	150305
8	Net Area sown	150305
9	Net Irrigated Area	150305
10	Canal Irrigated Area	8500
11	Tube well Irrigated Area	150305
12 (a) (b) ©	Tractors upto 20 HP 21-35 HP Above 35 HP	13346 27 5587 7732
13 (a) (b)	No. of Tube wells Electric Diesel	32989 32551 438
13 (a) (b)	Pump Sets Electric Diesel	17 2 15
14	No. of Sprinkler sets.	10
15	Krishi Vigyan Kendra	1 Kurukshetra.

Area, Average Yield and Production of Different Crops.

There are two main cropping seasons, namely Kharif and Rabi. Paddy and Sugarcane are the major crops of Kharif and Wheat and Sunflower are of Rabi season. Rabi Pulses like Gram, Lentil & Peas and Rabi Oilseeds are also grown during Rabi and Maize & Kharif pulses in Kharif. The area, average yield and production of major crops is given as under:-

Area – 000 hectares.

Av. Yield – Kg/Ha.

Prod. – 000 tones.

Year	Paddy			Wheat			Sugarcane			Sunflower
	Area	A.Y	Prod	Area	A.Y	Prod	Area	A.Y	Prod	Area	A.Y	Prod
2000-01	112	3187	357	109	4641	506	16	6525	104	1	1350	1
2001-02	111	3310	367	110	4462	491	18	6566	118	1.5	1330	2
2002-03	107	3465	371	109	4330	472	18	6749	121	2	1800	4
2003-04	112	3107	348	112	4025	451	15	6818	102	7	1610	4
2004-05	122	3825	468	114	4064	463	12	7582	91	6.5	1800	12
2005-06	111	3752	416

Consumption of Chemical fertilizers

The consumption of chemical fertilizers of the past 9 years is given as under:

Unit- Nutrients in M.T.

Year	N	P	K	Total
1997-98	46221	11544	748	58513
1998-99	48607	11125	387	60119
1999-2k	51055	12267	720	64042
2000-01	48186	13117	1181	62484
2001-02	47808	13883	1129	62804
2002-03	44338	12849	1309	58496
2003-04	40650	13717	1839	56208
2004-05	43123	13969	1562	58654
2005-06	57359	16214	2913	76486

The use of chemical fertilizers (NPK) has increased during the year 1997-98 to 2001-02 and there is decline during 2002 to 2005. Again the fertilizers consumption has been increased during 2005-06.

Schemes for the Assistance of farmers:-

1. National Biogas & Manure Management Programme: Under non conventional energy & Resources Development and National biogas & manure management programme the assistance of Rs. 2700/- for General category & Rs. 3500/- for SC/ST/LLL/SF/MF beneficiaries is being given on the installation of biogas plants. Generally the 210 CFT biogas plants have been installed during the past years in the district.

2. Macro Management Mode (MMM) Scheme:

Component	Procedure/Method of Implementation	Assistance for farmers.
1. Field D. plots under Agri. Ext. services.	Production Technology.	Rs. 1000/- for one acre.
2. Farmers training	-do-	Rs. 5000/- for 50 farmers.
3. Promotion of vermi compost	Establishment of vermi compost unit and utilization of vermi compost without using chemicals.	Rs. 1200/- per unit of 3’ x 10’ x 1.5’
4. Bio village	Demonstration on use of biofertilizers & green manuring	Inputs like Azotobactor & PSB and Dhaincha seed free of cost.
5. Subsidy on certified seed.	Subsidy on certified seeds of Paddy & Wheat.	Rs. 200/- per qtls.

3. Integrated Scheme of Oilseeds, Pulses, Oil palm and Maize (ISOPOM):

Component	Procedure/method of implementation.	Assistance for farmers.
1. Distribution of certified seeds of pulses.	Certified seeds of pulses like Moong, Mash, Lentil, Arhar & Gram etc. are supplied on subsidy.	Rs. 800/- per Qtl.
2. Block D. Plots.	Block D. plots of one hect. size on pulses and oilseeds crops are laid out at the farmers fields.	50% subsidy limited to Rs. 3000/- per ha Soya bean, Rs. 1000/- per ha Intercropping Rs. 2000/- per ha for Kh. Pulses & Mustard and Rs. 2500/- per ha for Gram.
3. Minikit Trials.	Minikits of pulses and Oilseeds are supplied to the farmers for yield performance of new varieties.	Free of cost.
4. IPM D.Plots.	D. Plots are laid out under IPM Bio Pesticides are supplied on subsidized rates/ free of cost. Farmers field schools are also organized to trained the farmers.	Free of cost/ on Subsidized rates as per norms fixed by Govt.

4. Water saving Devices:-

1. Sprinkler set	Installation of Sprinkler sets on subsidized rates.	Rs. 15000/- per set to SC/ST & Rs. 10000/- per set for General category farmers.
2. Supply of Bio fertilizers	Bio fertilizers like Azotobactor , PSB are supplied on subsidized rates to save the use chemical fertilizers	On 50% Subsidy.
3. Supply of Gypsum.	Gypsum is being supplied on subsidized rates for reclamation of Soils & under ISOPOM scheme.	50% subsidy for reclamation of soils and 75% under ISOPOM.

5. Budget required for the benefit of farmers during the year 2006-07.

S.No.	Scheme	Unit	Unit cost	Rates of Subsidy	Amount of subsidy Required.
1	Construction of under ground channels	500 Acres.	Rs. 10000/- per acre.	50%	Rs. 2500000/-
2.	Green Manuring (Dhaincha Seed)	10000 Acres	Rs. 240/- per acre	50%	Rs. 1200000/-
3.	Promotion of Vermi compost.	100 Units	Rs. 4800/- per unit.	25%	Rs. 120000/-
4.	Tractor Mounted Sprayers.	10 Nos.	Rs. 25000/-	50%	Rs. 125000/-

NOTE ON AGRICULTURAL ACTIVITIES – DISTRICT KKR

Kurukshetra district came into existence as a result of re-organization of Karnal District in 1973. The district however was again reorganized in 1989 giving birth to Kaithal district.

The total geographical area of the district is 1.68 lakh hectares, which is spread over in 419 villages. Total cultivable area of the district is 1.50 lakh hectares. The figures relating to other classification are appended here.

1. Total No. of Villages. 419

2. Geographical area. 1.68 Lakh hectares.

3. Total cultivable area. 1.50 Lakh hectares.

4. Total irrigated area. 1.50 Lakh hectares.

5. Total cropped area (2004-05). 2.76 Lakh hectares.

6. Cropping intensity. 184%

7. No. of tractors (as on 31.03.2005) 13346 Nos.

8. No. of Tube wells (as on 31.03.2005) 32989 Nos.

9. No. of biogas Plants (as on 31.03.2006) 2782 Nos.

10. Average rainfall. 550 MM

11. No. of farming families (as per 1995-96

Agriculture census). 66672

The soils of the district are fairly fertile and leveled one and are fit for every type of crop. The principal crops of district in Kharif are Paddy & Sugarcane and in Rabi Wheat and Sunflower. The Paddy is being grown in about 115000 hectares and Wheat in about 114000 hectares.

The main activities of Agriculture Department are as under:

1. Dissemination of technical know-how to the farmers for increasing the production per unit area.

2. Distribution of certified seeds of various crops.

3. Free testing of soil and water samples.

4. Installation of Biogas Plants on subsidy.

5. Installation and development of Tube wells.

6. Quality control work to maintain the quality of agricultural inputs.

7. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programme on Paddy and Sunflower crops.

8. Laying out of demonstration plots on new technologies such as sowing of wheat by zero-till seed cum fertilizer drill & by bed planter. Demonstration on production technology, intercropping (Maize + Urd, Sugarcane + Mustard & Sugarcane + Vegetables).

9. Distribution of Agricultural implements on subsidized rates.

10. Distribution of Gypsum on 75% subsidy under ISOPOM scheme.

11. Providing subsidy on Sprinkler sets.

12. Safe storage of food grains.

13. Safe use of irrigation water.

14. To organize farmers training camps.

15. Inspection of Weigh Bridge of sugar mill & checking of Gur and Khandsari unit during the season.

16. Cane development work & introduction of new varieties of Sugarcane as per mill requirement.