By IANS,
New Delhi : The central government will chalk out a strategy to maximise the winter crop sowing at a meet Sep 24-25, after delayed rains affected summer crop yield, official sources said Thursday.
A release from the agriculture ministry said the two-day National Conference on Agriculture For Rabi Campaign 2012 will start here Monday to chalk out strategy to maximise crop production during the coming rabi (winter) season.
According to officials, kharif (summer) this year began with delayed onset of monsoon and subdued rain during the sowing period of June-July which improved gradually during August and September.
This resulted in delayed sowing and some area remained unsown, which is bound to impact the production of kharif crops, especially coarse cereals, they said.
Officials said it has provided a new opportunity for additional coverage under rabi crops and the prospects of the same have been fortified with widespread rains during September.
“Late rains were enough to recharge the soil profile in rainfed areas, adequate not only for germination of the seeds but also to sustain the plant growth till the winter rains in December-January. It is essential to capitalize on the available soil moisture through timely sowing and placing the seed at appropriate depth supported by the right amount of nutrition and plant protection,” said an official.
The Indian Council for Agriculture Research (ICAR) has come out with crop and area-specific recommendations for wheat and other winter crops, including use of high-yielding varieties, disease control and improved agronomic practices.
The states attending the conference are Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, Mizoram, Uttarakhand, Jharkhand, Himachal Pradesh, Meghalaya and Delhi.