Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

TREND AND GROWTH OF COARSE CEREALS IN REWA DISTRICT OF MADHYA PRADESH, INDIA

A.N. Gautam, B.S. Dwivedi, Manas Gupta3 and D.K. Tiwari

Abstract

Coarse grain of cereals have a fair percentage of cropped area in Rewa district of Madhya Pradesh, which nourish majority of tribal and other categories of poor people. These crops are more sustainable against the drought with low capital need. They not only survive and provide normal yield, though grown on marginal and unfertile poor land, but also a source of food security. Looking to the importance of coarse grain cereals in Rewa district, the study was conducted during the year 2009-10. Results revealed that except maize all other kharif coarse grain cereals recorded a negative compound growth rate per annum ranging from -0.88 per cent in Jowar to -5.12 per cent in Kodo-kutki. While the productivity of all the coarse grain cereals barring the Bajra witnessed a positive and significant improvement and appreciable compound growth rate per annum. Jowar, maize and kodo-kutki had lesser variability’s in the area, production and productivity. Poor land diversion, lower price/unit production, lack of processing/marketing facilities, poor demand from consumer, were same major constraints. These were made slow down the area production and productivity of coarse grain cereals in Rewa district of Madhya Pradesh.