AGRICULTURE OF ORISSA

There are four well-defined physical regions in the state,i.e., the northern plateau,the central table-land,the eastern ghat region and the coastal tract.

The agrarian economy in Orissa underwent a rapid decline owing to many impediments.In the first phase of her history the village level, self-sustained politico-economic units, encountered the Brahminical Iinstitutions.During the Muslim and Mughal periods the area of foreign impact widened.In the third phase of its history, the area of alien impact widened further completely jeopardising the economic life of the people.It was the formidable impact of western imperialism and capitalism that challenged the basic value system of Orissa an life which centered round the village level folk moots.Thus the economic history of Orissa was a part of the vast colonial system of the British rule.The people of Orissa had never been exposed to economic maladises as strongly as they were during the British rule.                

 

Hope eyes towards growth	Green land of Orissa	Cutting Crops on head	A women digging the earth.	Hopeing for better price

         _{On the basis of aridity index, the state can be divided into four zones:                                           
                                                                              
                  1. High moisturedeficit zone (45 and above) >> North-western districts.
                  2. Moderately high moisture deficit zone (40 to 45)>>South coastal districts.
                  3. Medium moisture deficit zone(35 to 40)>>Central table-land.
                  4. Low moisture deficit zone(35 and less)>>North coastal districts.}

Land and soil play the most role vital in the state's economy. Land is the chief source of an Oriya Farmer. Therefore, agricultural economy of the state is much dependent on the productivity of land.Orissa with its total geographical area of 15,540 thousand hectares the net sown area covered under  different   crops for agricultral purposes accounts for 59.90 thousand hectares, of which the gross irrigated works out at 18.54 thousand hectares with a gross cropped area of 82.75 thousand hectares.Agricultural is the prominent sector in Orissa's economy contributing 51% of the state's total domestic products in 1971.Some distimitive features of agriculture in Orissa which have relevance to planning are -the pressure of population on land and the inadequacy of irrigation. About 40% of the geographical area of the state has been exploited for agricultural use.The exploitation has been maximum in the coastal districts of Balasore, Cuttack, Puri and Ganjam which have extension areas of fertile alluvial soil.Temperature in Orissa are adequate for cropping of all crops although some crops such as wheat are limited by lower winter temperature.