Growth and instability of Rabi pulse production in Odisha: A statistical study

Abstract

The contribution of agriculture towards economy of the state of Odisha is very vast. Cereals and pulses are the major crops of Odisha. In rabi season, pulses are the major crops grown in Odisha. Major pulses grown in Odisha are black gram, green gram, arhar, cowpea chickpea etc. Pulses are important commodity group of crops that provides high quality protein complementing cereal proteins for predominantly substantial vegetative population of the state. An attempt has been made to study the compound growth rate and variability of area, yield and production of pulses for rabi season in the districts of Odisha and the state as a whole. Then the districts of Odisha are ranked on the basis of decreasing compound growth rate and increasing instability index of area, yield and production of rabi pulses. The state of Odisha performs well with respect to area and yield of rabi pulses due to which the performance in production is also found to be good. To get more increment in growth rate of area and yield of rabi pulses along with low degree of instability more area should be brought under assured irrigation during rabi season and adopting improved cultivation practices.