Dr. Hemchandra Saikia
(saikia.hemchandra@rediffmail.com)
Assam is an agrarian state of India with a geographical area of 78438 sq km of which gross cropped area is 3975 ha and net cropped area is 2699 ha and its cropping intensity is 147.28 per cent. Moreover, out of the total population of 3.12 crores, 70 % are directly or indirectly dependent on agriculture and allied sector for their livelihood. Again in Assam 27.41lakh farm families are directly associated with agriculture. Another important characteristic of Assam agriculture is its prevalence of fragmentation and small size of landholding where more than 80 % farm household belong to small and marginal. Due to population pressure and other manmade activities the average size of operational holding is decreasing decade after decade and at present the average size of operational holding is 1.09 ha. On the other hand, heavy dependence on monsoon or nature, frequent flood and drought, erratic rainfall along with other occurrences of varied climate changing phenomena are standing as critical challenging factors in continuing and sustaining agricultural crop production activities as a desirable and remunerative livelihood proposition. However, what may be the challenging factors stand against desirable agriculture in Assam, there cannot be best alternative for Assam agriculture because state cannot ignore food security, inclusive growth including farming community, developmental activities, ongoing process of climate change, global market and economic changes and environmental changes etc. Under such a cumulative agro-ecological and economic changes, exploiting full potential productivity of crop is one such crucial parameter which can really bring about a desirable changes in agricultural crop cultivation and sustain Assam agriculture such a position where people particularly our farming community and the state can obtain and maintain developed and sustainable and remunerative agriculture year after year provided all the adopted activities are suitable , improved, accessible, affordable, profitable and environment friendly and adopted in due space and time. And these call for a very collective and effective intervention from both institutional and individual front. Because, the existing average productivity of most of the crops across the state are very much below its potential level of productivity and thus state is incurring a great loss of revenue in each year.
What does the productivity of crop mean ? The Productivity of a crop means the production of a crop obtained in per unit of its cultivated area. The productivity of crop is governed by a host of factors . The most tangible factors which play crucial role in determining the productivity may be- selection of crop or variety, soil type, sowing time and duration of crop, sowing time and transplanting time, quality of land preparation, seed treatment or seedling or planting material treatment, quality of crop variety or seed or planting material, interval of change of seed or planting material or seed replacement rate, pattern and nature of fertilizers use, maintenance of soil moisture level, application of water or irrigation at critical stage of crop growth, top dressing of fertilizers at critical stages ,weeding and other intercultural operations in a suitable time, prophylactic or control measures against pest and diseases at proper time, method and quantity etc. Besides some uncontrolled factors like flood, drought and weather also play a very important role in determining the level of productivity of crops and income in the agriculture sector.
So, to address the issue of low productivity of crops, all the aforesaid factors ought to be addressed effectively in due space and time with proven and suitable scientific approaches giving due importance to efficient and economic use of inputs, affordability, accessibility ,profitability and environmental issues. For example, right selection of a crop or variety or quality seed or planting material in right time and place along with application of all essential and suitable cultivation practices of improved and economic type can enhance the productivity of a crops to a great extent, and this is reflected in many research results. On the other hand, if there is any mismatch in the selection of crop or variety, quality seed or planting material, sowing time, planting time, land preparation, fertility management, soil moisture treatment or water or irrigation at critical stages of crop growth, control of pest and diseases, and weed management in right time , the productivity of a crop or agriculture will reduce drastically leading to very low production and dismal income and profit for our esteemed farming community. So, these sensitive issues of productivity of crops must be addressed very effectively in right time and be placed without harming the very health of our environment or agro-ecology, and if all concerned can ensure this sustainable environment , definitely this will pave the way for enhanced productivity and profit from farming sector which will ultimately facilitate to encourage our farming community and attract our rural youth or entrepreneur to towards agriculture as their means of desirable entity of livelihood. Thus, sum of desirable results due to enhanced and sustained productivity of agriculture will ensure developed agriculture and developed economy minimizing the level of inequality among our farming community.
Intervention of government or other institutions or organization or NGOs in providing due logistic support facilities or infrastructures or inputs, capacity building programmers or due awareness programme in right time and place with due emphasis on quality aspect can ensure desirable enhanced productivity and profit from agriculture to a great extent. Moreover, larger coverage area with all the location specific proven improved agricultural technologies developed and recommended by Assam Agricultural University Jorhat from time to time and sustenance of these technologies at our farmers’ fields with continuous research, monitoring and evaluation will also ensure enhanced productivity and profit in agricultural crop cultivation. In this case, effective awareness and sensitization of these issues of improved technology application in right time and place at regular interval have a very positive role where all media including print and electronic media can bring about a desirable change in establishing developed and sustainable agriculture. Of course , from the media it is seen that resource institutions like Krishi Vigyan Kendra in the state is always seen in disseminating and popularizing the very improved and suitable technologies developed by Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat in right time and place, and the outcome is very well reflected in the productivity and income of our farming community in the state. But it needs more miles to go ahead. So let us put a collective effort and cooperation together as it is said “where there is a will there is a way”.