Gujarat may relax land holding size to usher in hi-tech agriculture

Patel said that the state had set a target of increasing the kharif output in 1998 by 11 per cent as compared to mere 0.57 per cent the previous year, subject to normal monsoon and availability of power for irrigation. The target for kharif is 131.15 lakh tonnes as compared with the previous year’s 113.40 lakh tonnes. The category-wise break up for 1998 (previous years figures within brackets) are: cereals 32.83 lakh tonnes (29.97), pulses 6.90 lakh tonnes(5.21), oilseeds 37.10 lakh tonnes (33.69) and commercial crops 54.32 lakh tonnes (44.53).

He exuded confidence to increase farm output in the current season itself through inter-cropping, like combining sowing cotton with pulses and inter-cropping in horticulture as well.

He said the state has produced 53,000 quintals of seeds this season as ag ainst 41,000 quintals last season. It proposed to distribute a total of 1.93 lakh quintals of seeds this season as compared to 1.67 lakh quintals last season. Patel said introduction of dry farming as practiced in Israel with the help of their official agency, Tahal Corporation, is also being contemplated. On spiralling cost of edible oils in the state months before the festive season, Patel said his government had decided to lift all `artificial controls’.