Millet Crop farming in Odisha:

The Government of Odisha launched the special

programme for promotion of millets in tribal areas knows as
Odisha Millet Mission (OMM) in 2017.

Mission (OMM) was initiated in 2017 to promote millets

(Ragi) as a staple crop of the farming system. Emerging from a
consultation between the state government, academia and
civil society, it is the first project in the agriculture and
farmers Empowerment Department with simultaneous focus
on production, processing, consumption, marketing, and
inclusion of millets in Government Schemes.
 Odisha has 10 Argo climatic zones which support its
soil types and cropping pattern. Out of 30 districts of the
State, 15 districts grow Millets and Maize. Among Millets,
95% of the total production is for the Finger (Ragi) millet.
Millet is a drought-tolerant crop that can be grown in dry,
arid climates where other crops would fail.

Major crops grown in eastern part of India:

The Indian States of Assam and Mizoram lie to the east of
Tripura. The major crops grown in the state are: rice, ragi,
jowar, maize, and pulses besides oilseeds and number of cash
crops. Cashew, coconut, areca nut, cardamom, chilies, cotton,
sugarcane and tobacco are among the other crops produced in
the state.
Besides rice, pulses and maize are the other
important crops in this region. Tea is the principal plantation
crop of the region and over 95% of the area is under tea
cultivation in Assam.
Jhoom Farming:

. It is also known as jhum or jhoom cultivation. It is the local name of

slash and burns agriculture.

. It is the local name of slash and burns agriculture.

. Jhum cultivation is a traditional agricultural process that involves
clearing the land of trees and other vegetation, burning it, and then
cultivating it for a set period of time.

. The farmers harvest the forest's trees and burn the plant remains.
. The ash is utilized to fertilize the land, which is then used for
agricultural or cattle grazing.

. The region is left for several years after agriculture to allow it to

recuperate.
. After that, the farmers move on to another location and continue the
procedure.

. This farming method is popular in the Northeastern states of India.

Income per Capita:

Per capita income for a nation is calculated by dividing the
country’s national income by its population.

. Dividing the total national income of a particular country or state by

the population in that specific geographical region.

. The mean income computed for every man, women, and child in a
particular group including those living in group quarters.
. The World Bank's data shows that India's per capita income in 1960
was $82, while China's was $89. In 1970, we were almost even, with
India at $112 and China at $113. In 1980, India was $266 and China
considerably behind at $194.

. In 2022, India was at $2388 and the China at $12720.

Role Of Morden technology in farming:

. Modern technology in agriculture has increased production and

productivity. This in turn has improved food security and income for
farmers. In addition, it has helped create new jobs and improve the
quality of life for rural communities.
. What is now known as modern agriculture was exceptionally
successful in supplying food to the world’s growing population in the
second half of the twentieth century. Primary crop yields, such as rice
and wheat, increased significantly, food prices declined, increases in
crop yields generally kept up with population expansion, and the
proportion of people often living without food remained modest.

1. Soil Sensor: Soil sensor is used to measure soil moisture level,

temperature and other factors affecting crop growth. The data
collected by the sensors is transmitted wirelessly to the farmer, who
can adjust his farming practices accordingly.
2. GPS technology: GPS technology is widely used in precision
farming. It helps to find out the boundaries of the field and apply
fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides correctly. This reduces wastage
and increases efficiency.

3. Weather monitoring: Farmers can now access real-time weather

data that can help them decide when to sow, how to irrigate and what
type of crop to grow. This information can be obtained through
weather apps or websites, or through dedicated weather stations on
the farm.

4. Automation: Automation has been widely adopted in agricultural

processes like sowing, transplanting, harvesting etc. This has reduced
the dependence on manual labour and increased efficiency.

5. Drones: Drones are being used extensively for mapping, surveying

and crop monitoring. They help in collecting data that can be used for
planning and execution of agricultural activities.

6. Agricultural Robots: Agricultural robots are being developed to

perform various tasks on farms, such as milking cows, picking fruits
and vegetables, and even cutting grass. These robots can work for long
periods of time without getting tired and can often do a better job
than human workers.
7. Satellite Imagery: Satellite imagery is used for weather
forecasting, crop monitoring and yield analysis. It helps farmers to
take timely decisions regarding irrigation, cropping pattern etc.

Agro Farming:

Food is a basic requirement for every living being. We depend on plant

and animals for food. Ancient men began the cultivation of food in a
small area and used certain procedures for their management and
improvement. This art of cultivation of the crop is called agriculture.
Soil preparation
Before raising a crop, the soil in which it is to be grown is prepared by
ploughing, levelling, and manuring. Ploughing is the process of
loosening and digging of soil using a plough. This helps in proper
aeration of the soil. After ploughing, the soil is distributed evenly and
levelled in the process called levelling. The soil is then manured.
Sowing

Selection of seeds of good quality crop strains is the primary stage of

sowing. After the preparation of soil, these seeds are dispersed in the
field and this is called sowing. Sowing can be done manually, by hand
or by using seed drilling machines. Some crops like paddy are first
grown into seedlings in a small area and then transplanted to the main
field.
Manuring
Crops need nutrients to grow and produce yield. Thus, the supply of
nutrients at regular intervals is necessary. Manuring is the step where
nutritional supplements are provided and these supplements may be
natural (manure) or chemical compounds (fertilizers). Manure is the
decomposition product of plant and animal wastes. Fertilizers are
chemical compounds consisting of plant nutrients and are produced
commercially. Apart from providing nutrients to crop, manure
replenishes soil fertility as well. Other methods for soil replenishment
are vermicompost, crop rotation, planting of leguminous plants.
Irrigation

Irrigation is the supply of water. Sources of water can be wells, ponds,

lakes, canals, dams etc. Over irrigation may lead to waterlogging and
damage the crop. This frequency and interval between successive
irrigation need to be controlled.
Weeding
Weeds are unwanted plants which grow among crops. They are
removed by using weedicides, by manually pulling them with hands
and some are removed during soil preparation.

Harvesting

Once the crop is matured, it is cut

and gathered, this process is called harvesting. Followed by
harvesting, grains are separated from the chaff either by threshing, or
manually in small scale (winnowing).
Storage

Grains yielded are stored in granaries or bins at godowns for later use
or marketing. Therefore, methods of crop protection need to be
better. In order to protect grains from pest and rodents- cleaning,
drying, fumigation, etc., are done prior to storing.