Evaluation of National Food Security Mission interventions in rice crop in Jammu district of J&K State
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Date
2018-05
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Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology Jammu, J&K
Abstract
The National Development Council in its 53rd meeting held on 23rd May, 2007 adopted a resolution to launch Food Security Mission comprising wheat, rice and pulses to increase the annual production of rice by 10 million tons, wheat by 8 million tons and pulses by 2 million tons by the end of 11th five year plan. Thus, a centrally sponsored scheme, “National Food Security Mission” was launched in October 2007 and was implemented in 482 districts of 19 states. The programme has been implemented in J&K state during 2011-12 in rice crop. Presently, Jammu, Kathua, Anantnag, Budgam, Baramulla, Kulgam, Pulwama and Kupwara districts are covered under NFSM-rice. To find out the impact of NFSM in rice crop, a study entitled “Evaluation of National Food Security Mission interventions in rice crop in Jammu district of J & K State” was conducted. Multistage random sampling technique was employed for selecting the sample of 168 farmers (120 NFSM farmers and 48 non-NFSM farmers). The selected respondents were interviewed using a structured interview schedule. The result shows that there was a significant difference in case of age and size of land holding between NFSM and non-NFSM farmers. Majority of the respondents were matriculate whereas none of the farmers were below primary level of education. Agriculture was main occupation of both the categories of respondents. There was a significant difference in case of overall knowledge between NFSM and non-NFSM farmers. From among the different interventions of NFSM, Department of Agriculture conducted demonstrations in the field of 25 percent respondents and provided seeds of improved variety to 31.66 percent respondents. Besides, micro-nutrient and herbicide were provided to 18.33 percent and 11.66 percent respondents, respectively. Similarly, 13.33 percent and 22.5 percent of NFSM farmers were provided rotavator and irrigation devices respectively at different subsidy rates. Majority of NFSM farmers were adopting the recommended seed rate and seed treatment in case of Basmati. Besides, majority of NFSM farmers were also adopting recommended seed rate in case of hybrid varieties. 79.16 percent of NFSM farmers used herbicides for controlling weeds in rice of which butachlor was used by majority (62.1 per cent) of respondents. Only 4.16 percent and 2.5 percent of NFSM farmers had applied insecticides and fungicides in the sampled area. There was a significant difference in production and productivity of NFSM farmers between 2012-13 and 2015-16 in Basmati varieties and non-significant difference in case of hybrid varieties. Major constraints encountered in rice production by both the categories of respondents were non-availability of labour, lack of crop insurance, low market price of produce, improper transport facility and high labour charges.