GUWAHATI, July 28 � In an attempt aimed at enhancing cropping intensity, the State Agriculture Department has embarked upon �mission double cropping�, with 12 districts being selected for the purpose.
As of now, a meagre 11,88,000 out of a total cropland of 28,10,000 in the State is utilized for double or more cropping. The State at present has a cropping intensity rate of 142 per cent, and the objective of the campaign is to raise it to targeted 145 per cent during 2011-12.
Sources in the Agriculture Department told The Assam Tribune that for realizing the desired growth of 145 per cent within 2011-12, it was highly imperative that the rest of the agricultural land having single cropping was utilized for at least two crops a year.
A novel feature of the mission is that it is having some of the key components and thrust areas incorporated in the National Food Security Mission (rice and pulse), Rashtriya Krishi Vikash Yojana, Agriculture Mechanization, certified seed production under Seed Village Programme, and Agriculture Irrigation. Rice transplanter machines will also be used for greater efficiency.
Sources said that Agriculture Minister Nilamoni Sen Deka is taking special initiative to make the mission a success and directed the officials and employees concerned to go about implementing the scheme in close cooperation with the farming community.
The districts chosen for the project during the initial stage are Dibrugarh, Tinisukia, Sivasagar, Jorhat, Golaghat, Morigaon, Kamrup, Nalbari, Dhemaji, Lakhimpur, Chirang and Baksa. Sources said that the programme � to be expanded gradually to cover more districts � was expected to bring in sweeping changes in the State�s agricultural scenario.
The minister, who held discussions with the officials today, took stock of different aspects of the venture and constituted an eight-member cell with Agriculture Director Dr Kabindra Barkakati for speedy execution of the project.
