Gujarat has eight agro-climatic zones and cultivates major crops like wheat, bajra, rice, maize, groundnut, mustard, sesame, pigeon pea, green gram, gram, cotton, and sugarcane. It is the largest producer of castor, tobacco, and psyllium in India. Horticulture is also significant, with crops including mango, banana, sapota, lime, guava, tomato, potato, onion, cumin, garlic, and fennel. Animal husbandry contributes 5% to the state's GDP. Dairy development is strong with over 10,000 milk cooperative societies. Agriculture faces constraints of drought-prone areas,

1. 1 Gujarat Agriculture: An overview

2. 2 GUJARAT AGRICULTURE AT A GLANCE Total Geographical Area: 188.00 lakh ha. Cultivable Area: 86.00 lakh ha. Agro-climatic Zones: Eight

4. Gujarat is the largest producer of, Castor, Tobacco, Isabgul (Psyllium), second largest Producer of Sesame seeds, Cotton and Groundnut in the country.

6. 5 GUJARATAGRICULTURE AT A GLANCE cont… ANIMAL HUSBANDRY Contribute 5 % of GDP of the State

8. 10,725 Milk Cooperative Societies

9. 150 lakh liter/day Milk Production

10. 20.84 lakh Members of Milk Cooperative Societies

11. Members get weekly cash payment for sale of milk.

13. 8 AGRICULTURAL AT GLANCE ….. LAND USAGE & IRRIGATION CLASSIFICATION OF STATE LAND USAGE Total land held by Operational Holders 89.00 lakh hectors Actual cultivated area 86.00 lakh hectors Total cultivated area 112.00 lakh hectors Area under irrigation Irrigation Potential through canal irrigation: 21.48 lakh ha. With Sardar Sarovar Dam: 38.41 lakh ha. No. of Check dams & Boribands constructed: 50,000 No. of Farm Ponds created: 1,37,000 No. of Village Ponds deepened: 3087 A major Watershed Programme under implementation

15. Diversified Crops and Cropping systems

16. Climatic diversities

17. Biodiversities

18. Good transport facilities -- PORTS & AIRPORTS

19. Strong Agri Marketing system, Agro based Industries & Co-operatives

20. Enterprising Farmers having business instincts

22. Soil erosion is increasing due to advancement of Desert land, Deforestation

23. Depletion Of Water Table

24. Sea Water Ingress

25. Deterioration of Soil and Water conditions due to salinity ingress

26. Irregular rain pattern affecting productivity in agriculture

27. Agriculture affected due to recurrent droughts

28. Low Productivity Of Local Livestock Breeds

29. Inadequate Fodder Resources

30. Poor R & D Facilities For Marine resources

32. Perishable air cargo complex at Ahmedabad International airport being set up –GOI sanction for land awaited.

33. Agro Industrial policy to support Agro Export & Processing of Agro Products

34. Testing laboratory being set-up with Gujarat Agriculture Universities

37. Center of Excellence on Post Harvest Technology, Navsari

38. Center of Excellence on soil and water Management, Junagadh

41. 16 Strengthening of Agriculture infra structure cont.. SOIL HEALTH CARD..FINE OBJECTIVES Analysis of soil of all the villages of the state Guidance to farmers regarding fertilizer usage based on soil analysis Advising farmers regarding alternate cropping pattern based on soil analysis. Providing Soil Health Card to each farmer. 2,00,000 Soil Health Card distributed to farmers

42. 17 SOIL HEALTH CARD Government of Gujarat initiated scheme of SHC Actions Taken by AUs Actions Taken by DAG SHC Program Expert Group formed Soil data of 2,00,000 farmers’ land collected from 18000 villages in 2003=04 District level and Taluka level Scientists Identified Soil samples analyzed and database created Scientists & Extensions are advising crop improvement qualitatively based on soil data and existing knowledge DAG started farmers meet to explain cropping based on Soil data & makes available at local level Crop planning based on MAI TALUKA PLAN VILLAGE PLAN INDIVIDUAL FARMAR PLAN University recommendations compiled CDC formed

43. 18 Strengthening of Agriculture infra structure cont…. WORK PLANsoil health card Rabi- 2003-04 & Kharif 2004-05 Work Plan prepared for every taluka and village by team of agri. scientists, Agri. officers and hort. officer Rabi 2004-05 Taluka level plan prepared Village/Individual Farmer level plan under preparation

44. 19 Soil Health Card cont… ADVANTAGE FARMERS Farmers have now advantage of Knowing actual quantity of fertilizer needed. (This resulted in less use of Urea in certain areas) Alternate crop pattern Dialogue with scientists for issue related to farming

45. 20 Soil Health Card cont… FUTURE PLAN The taluka level plan will be based on Soil health analysis Rainfall pattern Soil depth analysis (data source BISAG) Market research - data of average price of various crops of last five years Manuals under preparation AAU - for officers for taluka and village plan preparation JAU - for Individual Farmers’ plan

47. Agriculture Taluka level planning is displayed on WEBSITE.

48. TALK – BACK" PROGRAMS CONDUCTED ON PACKAGE OF PRACTICES OF VARIOUS CROPS WITH FARMERS

50. 5 lakh Kisan Credit Cards distributed this year (cooperation NABARD)

51. Credit of Rs. 4500 crore is already given by September end. 1,18,000 farmers added in loans sanctioned

52. The Crop Insurance Scheme is implemented in the State. Rs. 700 crores of claims of farmers were paid in last year

53. Another Farmers Income Insurance Scheme has also been implemented in 5 districts.

56. 98 % of villages are electrified

57. All Talukas are connected with telecommunication network.

58. State has its own GSWAN network which will shortly reach out to villages.Gujarat State Wide Area Network

60. Enhancing genetic yield levels of crops and animals, incorporating resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses

62. Need to have Testing Laboratory with Agricultural Universities for certification of Organic Product

64. Due to erratic rainfall pattern in many years, productivity gets effected

65. Need for developing a sound weather forecasting system

67. Increasing use for agriculture related items like cheap desalination, operationalisation of pumps by solar energy, solar drier,wind mills needed

70. A market mechanism needs to be developed for dissemination of information and exports

73. 78% of drinking water supply dependent on ground water.

75. water table going down by almost 3 mts. every year

76. 27% of villages have water quality problems – excess fluoride & nitrate

77. 1600 Km of coastline lead to problem of salinity ingress in 1/6th part of the State

79. To make water available in adequate quantity in water scarce and quality affected villages on priority basis.

80. Inter basin bulk transfer of water from South and Central Gujarat to drought prone, desert areas and water quality effected villages of Kutch, Saurashtra and North Gujarat areas.

82. 10 worst drought affected and desert districts to be provided drinking water under Sujalam & Suphalam Yojana which emphasis on in-situ water conservation and restoring ecological water balance.

84. Formation of Pani Samities to take over the full responsibility of water supply and sanitation in villages.

85. NGOs to play a role as Implementation Support Agencies (ISAs) and 32 NGOs are working at present.

87. Village community to manage their in-village systems

88. Development of local and traditional source for conjunctive use.