By IANS
Ranchi : Jharkhand has registered a higher per hectare production rate in the yield of cauliflower, lady's finger and onion than the national average this year despite poor irrigation facilities and inadequate infrastructure.
"Jharkhand farmers have achieved success in per hectare production of cauliflower, lady's finger and onion without the support of the government," said Ganesh Mahto, member of the Jharkhand Vegetable Sellers' Association.
"If the farmers are provided with good quality seeds and better farming systems, Jharkhand will emerge as a leader in vegetable production," he said.
According to Jharkhand State Level Works Samittee, the per hectare production of cauliflower was 14.98 tonne in Jharkhand this year while the national average was just 11.24 tonne. The production of lady's finger was 10 tonne per hectare while the national average was 9.36 tonne per hectare. Per hectare production of onion was 14.91 tonne against the national average of 10.32 tonne.
The high yield of vegetables in the state has caught the attention of big players like Reliance, which is setting up vegetable outlets in the state.
The effort of the farmers is even more praiseworthy considering the fact that only 12 percent land in the state has irrigation facilities against the national average of 40 percent. Only half of the total land in the state is cultivable.
Tomatoes produced in the state are often damaged due to the absence of adequate cold storage facilities.