Agriculture

Geographical Situation:

The Balangir District was formed on 1st November, 1949. Sonepur was carved out as a separate district on 01.04.1993. The district is bounded by Sonepur and Boudh in the east, Nuapada in the west, Kalahandi in the south and Bargarh is in the north. The District lies between 20011’40” – 21005’08” North Latitude and 82041’15” – 83040’22” East Latitude.

Balangir District is located under Western Central Table Land Agro climatic Zone characterized by hot and sub humid climate.

Basing on the physiographic and irrigation availability. Balangir District has been divided in to four Agro– ecological situations (AES) and characterized by a hot dry summer and highly erratic rainfall distribution of south–west monsoon rains i.e

• Plain land irrigated
• plain land Rainfed
• undulating plain Drought Prone
• undulating sub– mountaineous tract Rainfed.

Basic Information:

• Geographical area in Ha – 658200
•  Cultivated Area in ha – 345475
• High – 189325
• Medium – 70155
• Low – 85995

Soil Type:

Broadly the district has Red & Yellow, Red & Black, Black, Late–rite, Black Cotton Soil and Brown forest soil .

Normal & Actual Rainfall:

Normal & Actual Rainfall in mm 1289.8 (59.6). The district receives rainfall from the South–west monsoon during June to August. The coldest month of the district is December where as the hottest month of the district is May.

The normal annual rainfall of the district was 1440mm. (1901 to 1950) which was gone down to the average of 1289.8mm, when calculating the average from1901 to 1990. The average rainy days from 1901 to 1950 was 67days where as the average from 1901 to 1990 is 59.6 days. The above analysis of data shows the reduction of receipt of rainfall during 1951 to 1990, which should be critically observed and suitable steps should be taken to improve the environmental features.

The mean maximum and minimum temperature of Balangir district is 34.9 degree C and 21.0 degree C with mean morning humidity 67% and evening humidity 57 %. Some times in summer season the maximum temperature rises to above 50 degree C.

Irrigation:

The district has no perennial irrigation system except Hirakud Command area which covers very negligible areas. All the I.P. existing in the district irrigate after the receipt of good monsoon shower. The district has only 10.9 % and 4.6 % of total cultivated area with flow of irrigation system during Kharif and Rabi respectively which is also very negligible as compare to the state average. The net irrigated area of the district is 19.94 % of the total cultivated area i.e. 68893 Ha. which includes the life saving irrigation systems like Dug wells, Kata, Nalas and WHS.

Natural Calamities

Every year the crops grown in the district face set back in getting in adequate rain which resulted reduction in yield.The year wise happening of major natural calamities is furnished below:

•  Nos of Block – 14
•  Nos of Villages – 1771 + 5 Local bodies
•  Nos of GP – 317 + 5 Local bodies
•  Nos of DAO Circle – 3
•  Nos of AAO Circle – 28
•  Nos of VAW Circle – 235
•  Nos of Farm – 3
•  Nos PACS – 158

Population (2011 Census):

Male – 830097
Female – 818900
Total – 1648997
Nos of Farm Family:
Marginal Farmers – 177870
Small Farmers – 50990
Big Farmers – 20701
Total Farm Family – 249561

Address of the Supreme Authority:

Deputy Director of Agriculture
At – Adarshapada
PO/Dist – Balangir, Pin – 767002
Tel: 06652-250195
Email: ddabolangir.dag[at]nic[dot]in