Agriculture Scenario
Keonjhar is a land locked district with an area of 8240 km2. It is situated in the northern part of Orissa. It is surrounded by Singhbhum district of Jharkhand in the North, Jajpur in the South, Dhenkanal and Sundargarh in the West and Mayurbhanj and Bhadrak in the East.
Geographical Area
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8,31,000 ha
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Geographical Location
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Latitude – 21°01'N and 22°10'N
Longitude – 85°11'E and 86°22'E
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Geographical Boundary
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North- Singhbhum Dist. of Jharkhand
South- Jajpur Dist.
East- Mayurbhanj and Bhadrak Dist.
West -Dhenkanal and Sundergarh Dist.
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AGRO-ECOLOGICAL SITUATION |
Phytogeographically, the vegetation of Keonjhar district comes under two major divisions, north central plateau zone and northern central coastal plain. The district is covers under two agro climatic zone and six agro-ecological situations as indicated below:
ACS and AES of Keonjhar District
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Sl. No
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Agro-climatic Zone
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Agro-ecological situations
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Blocks covered
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Broad Soil groups
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1
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North Central Plateau Zone
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Low elevation, Medium rainfall
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Ghasipura
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Alluvial
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|
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Medium elevation, Low rainfall
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Jhumpura & Saharpada
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Red Lateritic
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|
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Medium elevation , Medium rainfall
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Keonjhar, Patna, Telkoi, Joda, Harichandanpur
|
Red Lateritic
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|
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Medium elevation, High rainfall
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Ghatagaon, Champua
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Red Lateritic
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|
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High elevation, High rainfall
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Banspal
|
Red Lateritic
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2
|
North Central Coastal Plain
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Low elevation, low rainfall
|
Hatadihi & parts of Anadpur,
|
Alluvial
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The soils of Keonjhar, by and large, constitute 75% red soil 2 to 5% mixed red and black soils and rest 20-23% red and yellow soils. The soils are mostly acidic in reaction; light textured in surface but heavier in sub-soil and are in low available K status. The major the major crops grown in the region are paddy, Maize,Blackgram,Greengram,Arhar,Horsegram,Sesamum,Nigerm,Mustard,Wheat,Mango,Guava,Citrus,Banana,Tomato,Brinjal,Cabbage,Cauliflower,Okra,Sweet Potato
Table 5, Major Soil of Keonjhar District
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|
S. No
|
Soil type
|
Characteristics
|
Area (000ha)
|
Percent (%)
|
1
|
Red Soil
|
Presence of excess amounts iron oxide, has sub angular blocky structure
Mostly acidic, low OM content, N and available P, Deficient in Ca, Mg, B and Mo. Poor water retention capacity
|
342.0
|
41.2
|
2
|
Mixed red and yellow
|
Moderately acidic, low in N and P, rich in K.
|
241.0
|
29.0
|
3
|
Mixed red and black
|
Neutral in reaction, medium fertility status, Ca and Fe are moderately present, Deficient in Mo
|
91.4
|
11.0
|
4
|
Lateritic
|
Rich in hydrated oxides of Fe and Al with small amount of manganese. Poor in N, P, OM and has medium level of K. Mild to strong acidic. P fixation is high. Available sulphur is low
|
83.0
|
10.0
|
5
|
Alluvial
|
Light textured soils with low WHC, base saturation, fertility. Usually acidic to neutral and alkaline. Drainage is poor due to low permeability. Deficient in N,P,S and medium in K
|
73.0
|
8.8
|

Figure shows that 41.2 percent soils are red soil, 29 percent mixed red and yellow, 11 % mixed red and black, 10% lateritic followed by 8.8% are alluvial in nature across the district.
Sandy soils are found in uplands and clayey soils are in low land. Soils of Ghasipura Patna and Anadnpur blocks are red soils and the rest 10 blocks are laterite soils. 31% of area comprise of acid soils, 61% neutral and 8% are alkaline in nature. In so far as nutrient index of the district is concerned, N is medium (1.90), P is low (1.21) and K is medium (2.36).
Table 6: Soil Fertility Indices (Figures in Percentage) (For latest year)
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Sl. No.
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Block
|
PH
|
EC(ds/m)
|
% of area under Soil Salinity
|
Organic Carbon
|
Available N (Kg/ha)
|
Available P (Kg/ha)
|
Available K (Kg/ha)
|
|
Acidic
|
Neutral
|
Alkaline
|
Low
|
Medium
|
High
|
Low
|
Medium
|
High
|
Low
|
Medium
|
High
|
Low
|
Medium
|
High
|
Low
|
Medium
|
High
|
|
1
|
Keonjhar
|
68
|
23
|
9
|
100
|
--
|
--
|
0
|
54
|
39
|
7
|
54
|
39
|
7
|
47
|
44
|
9
|
38
|
50
|
12
|
|
2
|
Saharpada
|
73
|
19
|
8
|
100
|
--
|
--
|
0
|
58
|
32
|
10
|
58
|
32
|
10
|
40
|
50
|
10
|
32
|
48
|
20
|
|
3
|
Banspal
|
60
|
37
|
2
|
100
|
--
|
--
|
0
|
48
|
37
|
15
|
48
|
37
|
15
|
68
|
22
|
10
|
30
|
49
|
21
|
|
4
|
Telkoi
|
88
|
10
|
3
|
100
|
--
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--
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0
|
73
|
25
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2
|
73
|
25
|
2
|
80
|
15
|
5
|
20
|
55
|
25
|
|
5
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Ghatagaon
|
62
|
33
|
2
|
100
|
--
|
--
|
0
|
43
|
48
|
9
|
43
|
48
|
9
|
52
|
33
|
15
|
18
|
45
|
37
|
|
6
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Patna
|
82
|
14
|
5
|
100
|
--
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--
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0
|
43
|
49
|
8
|
43
|
49
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8
|
64
|
24
|
12
|
15
|
65
|
20
|
|
7
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Harichandanpur
|
70
|
28
|
4
|
100
|
--
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--
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0
|
56
|
37
|
7
|
56
|
37
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7
|
41
|
49
|
10
|
15
|
67
|
18
|
|
8
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Anandapur
|
55
|
35
|
10
|
100
|
--
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--
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0
|
56
|
38
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6
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56
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38
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6
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68
|
24
|
8
|
20
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55
|
25
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|
9
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Ghasipura
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78
|
17
|
5
|
100
|
--
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--
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0
|
41
|
54
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5
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41
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54
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5
|
49
|
39
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12
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18
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62
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20
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10
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Hatadihi
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65
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23
|
12
|
100
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--
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--
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0
|
60
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28
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12
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60
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28
|
12
|
42
|
43
|
15
|
20
|
58
|
22
|
|
11
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Champua
|
60
|
35
|
5
|
100
|
--
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--
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0
|
40
|
41
|
9
|
40
|
41
|
9
|
55
|
27
|
18
|
15
|
55
|
30
|
|
12
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Jhumpura
|
76
|
22
|
2
|
100
|
--
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--
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0
|
48
|
45
|
7
|
48
|
45
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7
|
48
|
40
|
12
|
18
|
57
|
25
|
|
13
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Joda
|
80
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15
|
5
|
100
|
--
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--
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0
|
40
|
48
|
12
|
40
|
48
|
12
|
53
|
37
|
10
|
14
|
61
|
25
|
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Total:-
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71
|
24
|
5
|
100
|
|
|
0
|
48
|
43
|
9
|
48
|
43
|
9
|
53
|
35
|
12
|
20
|
55
|
25
|
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The climate of the district is characterized by an oppressively hot summer with high humidity. Summer generally commences in the month of March. Temperature begins to rise rapidly attaining the maximum in the month of May. During the Summer maximum temperature is 38.20 C. The weather becomes more pleasant with the advent of the monsoon in June and remains as such up to the end of October. The temperature in the month of December is lowest i.e. 11.70 C. Sometimes it even drops down to 70 C. The average annual rainfall is 1534.5 mms. The month wise rainfall are stated below:
AGRICULTURE PRODUCTION SYSTEM |
Agriculture is main sector of the district which provides livelihood to nearly two-thirds of total workforce in the district. The area under irrigation is about 24 percent of the total cultivated area. Agriculture is the backbone of the district economy. Therefore, it is essential to deal with this sector in a proper way to increase 4 % agricultural growth in the 12th fifth year plan. Heavy pressure on land has resulted in large scale unemployment and under employment in the rural area. Keonjhar district is having 53 % upland followed by 34 % medium and 13 % low land. The district is rich in both groundwater and surface water resources. About 63308 ha of the total irrigated area (31.06lakh ha) is irrigated during Kharif season and 31897 ha is irrigated (assured irrigation) during Rabi season. As per the ground water resources assessed during 2009, the total annual replenishable ground water resources in the district is 81323 ham. The block wise ground water resources are given in Table 3. Around 4130 ham of the total ground water is used in domestic and industrial water supply. The available ground water resource for irrigation in net terms is 61690 ham. Net ground water availability for future irrigation development is 113353 ham. Over all the present level of ground water development is only 25.55 percent in the district with the maximum in Anandapur block viz. 44.84% and minimum in Bansapal block 11.1%. Hence the district as well as all the blocks come under the white category. Therefore, the challenge before the agriculture department today is to ‘produce more from less’ i.e., more nutritious food from less land, water and other resources. Another challenge is to protect what we produce. These can be accomplished only through new technologies as the existing technologies do not seem to be adequate. Recent advances made in biotechnology offer exciting opportunities to address some of these challenges. Transgenic technology in crops is one of the most powerful methods and has already made some breakthrough in this endeavour.
Ground Water Resoureces of the District.
Sl. No.
|
Assessment unit/block
|
Net Annual Ground Water Availability
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Existing gross ground water draft for irrigation
|
Existing gross ground water draft for domestic and industrial water supply
|
Existing gross ground water draft for all uses
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Allocation for domestic and industrial requirement supply up to next 25 years
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Net ground water availability for future irrigation development
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Stage of ground water development (%)
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1
|
Anandapur
|
3615
|
1474
|
147
|
1621
|
172
|
1969
|
44.84
|
2
|
Banspal
|
8895
|
864
|
123
|
987
|
146
|
7885
|
11.10
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3
|
Champua
|
3947
|
1192
|
424
|
1616
|
177
|
2578
|
40.94
|
4
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Ghashipura
|
5880
|
1391
|
173.28
|
1564
|
233
|
4256
|
26.60
|
5
|
Ghatagaon
|
8385
|
931
|
149.81
|
1081
|
179
|
7275
|
12.89
|
6
|
Harichandanpur
|
7470
|
1033
|
168.90
|
1202
|
226
|
6212
|
16.09
|
7
|
Hatadihi
|
7385
|
2504
|
229.98
|
2734
|
275
|
4606
|
37.02
|
8
|
Jhumpura
|
4960
|
1263
|
154
|
1417
|
173
|
3524
|
28.57
|
9
|
Joda
|
3926
|
637
|
1824
|
2461
|
715
|
2574
|
62.68
|
10
|
Keonjhar
|
7966
|
1865
|
368.28
|
2233
|
239
|
5862
|
28.03
|
11
|
Patna
|
5731
|
1562
|
128.64
|
1691
|
161
|
4009
|
29.51
|
12
|
Saharapada
|
5648
|
1147
|
122
|
1269
|
135
|
4366
|
22.47
|
13
|
Telkoi
|
7515
|
782
|
117
|
899
|
159
|
6574
|
11.96
|
District Total
|
81323
|
16645
|
4130
|
20775
|
2990
|
61690
|
25.55
|
Paddy is the subsistence crop and grown as a major cereal in the district. Apart from paddy, green gram, black gram, gram etc. are grown in the district. Paddy production has substantially increased from 278 thousand MTs in 2008-09 to 413.09 thousand MTs in 2013-14. The paddy cultivated is an area of 1,75,370 ha. Out of which upland paddy area is 1.58 lakh ha followed by medium land paddy area is 1.01 lakh ha and low land paddy is 0.38 lakh ha. Commercial crops like Jute and potato are grown in the district. The climate is conducive for oil seeds and pulses.
Land Utilisation Statistics (Year-2014-15) (Area in hectares)
Sl no
|
Block
|
Geographical Area
|
Forest
|
Land put to non agricultural uses
|
Culturable waste land
|
Permanent Pastures & other grazing land
|
Misc. tree crops & grooves not included in net area sown
|
Current fallow
|
Other fallow uncultivable land
|
Net area sown
|
Gross cropped area
|
Cropping Intensity in %
|
1
|
Anandpur
|
36824
|
5293
|
6473
|
3024
|
1657
|
413
|
1130
|
1522
|
17312
|
26633
|
153.8%
|
2
|
Ghasipura
|
40938
|
5742
|
6328
|
3491
|
1988
|
320
|
1268
|
2120
|
19681
|
29243
|
148.6%
|
3
|
Hatadihi
|
44488
|
8600
|
|