PROMOTION OF PULSES THROUGH INTERCROPPING

DURING KHARIF

West Bengal Perspective

West Bengal Agriculture Perspectives: Geographical Area 8875200 ha.

Total Cultivable Area 5673352 ha(63.9% of total geographical area)

Net Area Sown & C.I. 52,04,902 ha(91.74% of Cultivable Area), 181.73%

A. Total Cultivable Area in less fertile 6 dists of Sub-Himalayan West Bengal

15,28,403 ha(26.94% of Total Cultivable Area)

B. Total Cultivable Area in 8 fertile dists of West Bengal

23,97,853 (42.27% of total Cultivable Area)

C. . Total Cultivable Area in 4 less fertile red & lateritic dists of West Bengal

17,47,096 ha(30.79% of total Cultivable Area)

Av. Cropping Intensity in 6 Dists of Sub-Himalayan West Bengal 174.51%

Av. Cropping Intensity in fertile 8 districts of West Bengal, 198.01%

Av. Cropping Intensity in 4 less fertile red & lateritic dists of West Bengal 155.85%

Gross Cropped Area(2012-13) 9458675 ha

Size of average Land Holding 0.77 ha / Holding

Intercropping Pulses during Kharif---Issues with Time & Space Zone-A: Average Annual Rainfall 2486 mm, 70% of it received during 4 Kharif months.

Zone-B: Average Annual rainfall 1543 mm, 70-75% received during 4 Kharif months,

Zone-C: Average annual rainfall 1420 mm,75-80% received during 4 Kharif months

Heavy rainfall during Kharif may cause water logging in low & medium land situation in all the Zones, posing survivability challenge to pulse crops,

More than 81% of net sown area is occupied by Agro-meteorologically suitable crop Paddy, during Kharif season,

Medium-Upland, Upland & Rice Bund of all the Zones are the only suitable space,

Small Holding Size with narrow Rice Bund pose challenge for Bund sowing,

Post-kharif season for Zones A, B and Kharif season for Zone C is the time,

PRESENT STATUS OF PULSES

Crop 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15

Lentil 59.299 63.982 65.462 67

Black gram

53.76 60.25 70.05 75

Khesari 25.81 28.49 30.73 32

Greem gram

20.03 23.2 24.43 26.5

Total Pulses

199.003 218.001 233.432 248.276

Gradual Increase in Area (‘000 ha)

Lentil Black gram

Khesari Green gram

Total Pulses

0

50

100

150

200

250

2011-12

2012-13

2013-14

2014-15

PRESENT STATUS OF PULSES

Crop 2011-12

2012-13 2013-14

2014-15

Lentil 703 955 959 985

Black gram

650 700 705 720

Khesari

1033 1240 1253 1275

Greem gram

647 680 696 815

Total Pulses

774 925 932 951

Enhancement in Yield (Kg/ha)

LentilBlack gram Khesari

Green gram Total

Pulses

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

2011-12

2012-13

2013-14

2014-15

PRESENT STATUS OF PULSES

Crop 2011-12

2012-13 2013-14

2014-15

Lentil 41.687 61.101 62.747 66

Black gram

34.94 42.193 48.81 54

Khesari

26.66 35.325 38.132 40

Greem gram

15.5 15.782 17 21.6

Total Pulses

154.03 201.648 215.23 236.06

Increase in Production (‘000 mt):

Lentil Black gram

Khesari Green gram

Total Pulses

0

50

100

150

200

250

2011-12

2012-13

2013-14

2014-15

Presently we are able to produce about 20% of our requirement of Pulses

REQUIREMENT AND PRODUCTION OF PULSES – A COMPARATIVE STATUS

OUR GOAL

To meet up at least 50% of Pulses requirement through domestic production during next five years,

0

5

10

15 12.53

12.65

12.76

12.87

12.98

13.10

13.21

1.77

1.54

2.02

2.15

2.36

2.77

2.88

(Lakh

Tonn

es)

PULSES

Requirement Production

Intercropping of Pulses during Kharif–Cropping Options

Rice- Arhar in Rice Bunds for all Zones,

Maize-black gram/green gram,

Sugarcane-Black Gram,

Green gram – Jute,

Cultivation of Black gram/Green gram in newly planted orchards,

Growing of Khesari/ Lentil as poira/ relay crop in rice fallows

Some experiences in West BengalINTERCROPPING

Raising pair row of Black gram (Kalai) in between the rows of maize (75 cm x 18 cm) will yield additional 3.0-4.0 Qtl of Kalai per hectare without hampering the yield of maize in Kharif season

Pair row of Kalai accommodated in between the Feb-March planted 95 cm apart sugarcane rows can register addition of 3.0 – 3.5 qtl. of yield of pulse without hampering the yield of the main crop i.e. Sugarcane.

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