Cereal Systems Initiative for South

Asia

Hub Characterization Report: Eastern UP Hub (India)

Hub Communication Platform Objective: 1 (Activity: 1.3)

Neelam Chaudhary- Hub Communication Manager Lori Wichhart- Resource Coordinator, aWhere, Inc.

John Corbett- President & CEO, aWhere, Inc. http://sites.google.com/site/csisaportal/awhere-platform

www.awhere.com/csisa

Cereal Systems Initiative for South Asia

The Cereals Systems Initiative for South Asia (CSISA) is mandated to

enhance farm productivity and increase incomes of resource-poor farm families in South

Asia through the accelerated development and inclusive deployment of new varieties,

sustainable management technologies, partnerships and policies. The project is being

implemented by the CGIAR institutions of IRRI, CIMMYT, IFPRI and ILRI and supported by

Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF), USAID and World Bank.

Hub Communication Platform/ aWhere, Inc.

For agriculture and agribusiness, aWhere's combination of GIS technology, ease of use,

low training needs, and sharable maps makes it an obvious choice. A map-based

integration of agronomic, business performance and agricultural census data, for

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analytics, aWhere 4.0 is the choice for agricultural workers. The mapping of agronomic

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tremendous foundation for researchers, analysts, production planners, and sales and

marketing professionals to use in allocating resources and measuring performance.

Acknowledgement We would like to acknowledge Eastern UP Hub manager, Dr RK Malik and his hub team

(Dr RK Malik- Hub manager, Dr Ajay Pundir- Ext. Ag, Mr Shahnawaz Rasool-

Research Associate, Mr Raman Sharma- Socio-economist and Mr Vijay- Accountant) for

their full support and guidance in preparing the report. We are also grateful to Dr M L

Jat (Cropping System Agronomist, CIMMYT) and Dr Yashpal Saharawat (Senior

Associate Scientist, IRRI) for the timely help and also Project Management Unit Team

for their support.

Introduction about the hub Uttar Pradesh often referred to as U.P. is a state located in the northern part of India. With

a population of over 190 million people, it is India's most populous state. Uttar Pradesh is

the second largest state-economy in India contributing 8.17% to India's total GDP. With

an area of 243,290 km2, UP covers a large part of the highly fertile and densely

populated upper Gangetic plain.

The economy of UP is

predominantly agrarian and

performance of agriculture and

allied activities such as

horticulture, animal husbandry,

dairy and fisheries. Agriculture

provides an employment to 66%

of total workers in state. Out of

an estimated number of 22.15

million rural households in UP,

77.4% are farmer households.

The climate of UP is

predominantly subtropical, but

weather conditions change

significantly with location and

seasons. The average

temperatures vary from 12.5–

17.5 °C in January to 30.5–40.5

°C in May and June. Rainfall in

the state ranges from 1,000–

2,000 mm in the east to 600–

1,000 mm in the west. About

90% of the rainfall occurs during the southwest monsoon, lasting from about June to

September. With most of the rainfall concentrated during this four-month period, floods

are a recurring problem and cause heavy damage to crops, life, and property, particularly

in the eastern part of the state, In eastern UP periodic failure of monsoon results in

drought conditions and crop failure also. Presently, the yield of cereals is very low in UP

Figure 1: District-wise hub domain area of Eastern UP Hub

and especially in the Eastern UP its still low and there is a tremendous scope to increase

it. Based on these facts the hub characterization has been done.

Eastern UP hub covers nine districts overall, eight from eastern UP Bahraich,

Sidharthnagar, Sant Kabir Nagar, Maharajganj, Gorakhpur, Kushinagar, Deoria, Paschim

Champaran and one of Bihar Purvi Champaran with the hub office located at Krishi

Vigyan Kendra (Agriculture Science center), Kushinagar (Figure 1). The hub team

consists of five members:

1. Dr RK Malik- Hub manager,

2. Dr Ajay Pundir- Ext. Ag,

3. Mr Shahnawaz Rasool- Research Associate,

4. Mr Raman Sharma- Socio-economist and

5. Mr Vijay- Accountant.

The hub characterization data on constraints and entry points has been collected in

conjugation with the hub team and characterized using the aWhere desktop 4.0 software.

The geographical area has been calculated of figure 2 by a where desktop. The source of

figures 4, 5, 7, 8, 11 & 12 is Eastern UP Hub team, of figures 3, 6, 13, 21 & 22 is

Potential Linked Credit Plan (2008-09), National Bank for Agriculture and Rural

Development & Statistical Magazine; Govt. of U.P. (http://upgov.nic.in), of figures

14,15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 23, 24, 25 & 26 is Department of Agriculture, Uttar Pradesh and of

figures 9 & 20 is Statistical Magazine; Govt. of U.P. (http://upgov.nic.in).

The total geographical area of the eastern up hub is 3768543 ha including the urban and

rural areas with highest area in Paschim Champaran district (639630.6 ha) and least in

Sant Kabir Nagar (185099.3 ha) (Figure 2).

Figure 3 shows that inspite of minimum geographical area (ha), Sant Kabir Nagar is the

most populated district and Deoria is the least populated district.

A technical working group (TWG) has been formed in each hub including the public-

private sector stakeholders to prioritize the technologies and timely feedback. The

Eastern UP hub team is also working in close collaboration with different partners in all

the districts of the hub domain region to strengthen and synthesize their work with other

stakeholders including fro public, private, NGOs, service providers, media, Kisan clubs.

These are scattered throughout the hub domain region as given in Figure 4

Figure 2: District-wise geographical area (ha) of Eastern UP Hub

Figure 4: District-wise partners of Eastern UP Hub

TWG is supporting group for the hub. Thirty members are in the TWG scattered in all the

districts except Bahraich (Figure 5).

Not available

Figure 3: District-wise total population of Eastern UP Hub

The total cropped area (‘000 ha) in different districts of eastern UP hub is given in figure 6. The data for some districts was not available. Table 1: Districts with the population

S.No. Districts Total cropped area (ha.) 1. Bahraich 431000 2. Maharajganj 360000 3. Deoria 322000 4. Sant Kabir Nagar 140000

This will help the hub team to prioritize the area for technology inception.

Figure 5: Technical Working Group of Eastern UP Hub

.

Rice- Wheat is the primary cropping system of all districts of Eastern UP hub domain

region (Figure 7). So the major intervention required is for the rice-wheat systems or this

cropping system need to be diversified to other systems.

Not available

Figure 6: District-wise cropped area (000 ha) of Eastern UP Hub

Figure 7: Primary cropping system of Eastern UP Hub

The second important cropping system in the hub domain districts varies as per soil type

and resources available. In Bahraich the second important cropping system is Maize-

Wheat, whereas, in other districts Sugarcane- Wheat is the important cropping systems as

given in figure 8 below.

More than 50% of the farmers have less than 0.5 ha land holding, therefore indicating

that small holder farmers are prevalent in the hub domain area. About 90% of the total

farmers have less than 1 ha of land. The maximum number of medium to large farmers is

in Kushinagar followed by Gorakhpur. Maharajganj has maximum small farmers

followed by Deoria and Bahraich (Figure 9).

Figure 8: Secondary Cropping System of Eastern UP Hub

The cereal crop i.e. rice, wheat and maize area and productivity varies from district to

district in different parts of eastern UP hub. The rice area is maximum in Bahraich

(2,50,000 ha) district and minimum in Sant Kabir Nagar (90,000 ha) in hub domain

region. Similarly the wheat sown area is maximum in Bahraich and Sidharthnagar

(1,50,000 ha) and least in Sant Kabir Nagar (90,000 ha), whereas for maize the maximum

was again in Bahraich

(81417 ha) and least in

Maharajganj (250 ha).

As sugarcane based

cropping systems are

also pre-dominant

some hub districts, it

was recorded that

Kushinagar (75,000

ha) have the maximum

sown area followed by

Paschim Champaran

(67548 ha) and

minimum in

(51.93% to 65.40%) (19.70% to 88.51%) (8.16% to 14.89%) (2.70% to 7.16%) (0.59% to 1.96%) (0.05% to 0.40%)

Figure 9: District-wise operational holdings of EUP hub during 2006-07

Figure 10: Area & productivity of Rice, Wheat, Maize & Sugarcane of Eastern UP Hub

Gorakhpur (4225 ha) (Figure 10). The statistical data on the average yield of the the

cereal and sugarcane crop shows that inspite of maximum rice area covered by Bahraich,

highest average yields are recoreded in Maharajganj (2.3 t/ha). Similarly, average wheat

yield were also maximum in Maharajganj and Kushinagar (2.7 t/ha) followed by

Bahraich (2.6 t/ha) and maize yield highest in Sidharthnagar, Sant Kabir Nagar and

Deoria (1.3 t/ha). Inspite of minimum area covered under sugarcane in Paschim

Champaran, the average maximum yield are recorded in this district only i.e. 54.7 t/ha

(Figure 10).

Various Conservation agriculture based resource conservation technologies have been

rolled out in the hub domain regions. The four major RCTS being adopted by the farmers

in Eastern UP hub region include ZT, Raised beds, Surface seeded and reduced till.

Maximum acreages has been under reduced till (58%) (Figure 11). Out of 58% reduced

till, 4% land was laser levelled.

Four different Resource Conserving Technologies (RCTs) are being adopted in Eastern

UP hub (ZT, Raised beds, Surface seeded and reduced till). Maximum acreages are

covered under reduced till (58%) and minimum is under ZT (8%) (Figure 11). Out of

58% reduced till, 4% land was laser levelled.

Figure 11: % acreages covered under different RCTs in Eastern UP Hub during 2009-10

Out of these the maximum acreages is covered by surface seeding in the cereal crops

followed by reduced till and raised bed respectively. RCT adoption varies with crops and

in sugarcane-wheat, cane-mustard, maize-potato and lentil-cane cropping systems the

raised bed has been adopted at a fast pace covering 10, 450, 40 & 50 acres respectively.

In mustard, lentil cropping systems relay crops and surface seeding picking up fast

(Figure 12).

The percent cropping intensity is highest in Sant Kabir Nagar followed by Maharajganj,

Kushinagar and Deoria. Minimum cropping intensity in the hub domain districts is in

Bahraich, Sidharthnagar and Gorakhpur districts. The cropping intensity data is not

available for the districts Purba and Paschim Champaran (Figure 13).

Figure 12: Crop-wise area covered under different RCTs in Eastern UP Hub during 2009-10

Not available

Soil Nutrient Status Soil nutrient status of the Eastern UP hub shows a low nitrogen & phosphorous status

(Figure 14) and medium potassium status throughout the hub domain area (Figure 15).

But Copper, Iron, Manganese and Zinc status shows variation among the districts.

Figure 13: District-wise % cropping intensity of Eastern UP Hub

Figure 14: District-wise phosphorous and nitrogen status of Eastern UP Hub

The high copper status has been recorded in Sant Kabir Nagar, Gorakhpur, Deoria,

Kushinagar, Purba Champaran) (Figure 16), green marked districts have high iron status

(Figure 17). Manganese status varies among the districts in the hub region. Sant Kabir

Nagar, Gorakhpur, Maharajganj, Kushinagar, Deoria and Paschim Champaran have high

manganese content (Figure 18)

Figure 16: District-wise copper status of Eastern UP Hub

Figure 15: District-wise potassium status of Eastern UP Hub

Figure 17: District-wise iron status of Eastern UP Hub

Figure 18: District-wise manganese status of Eastern UP Hub

The zinc status is also variable from district to district (very low in Bahraich,

Sidharthnagar, Sant Kabir Nagar, Gorakhpur; low in Maharajganj, Kushinagar, Deoria;

and marginal in Paschim Chamaparan) (Figure 19).

Fertiliser consumption In the hub domain districts the NPK usage varies within districts. Overall the usage is low

Figure 20: District-wise NPK usage in Eastern UP Hub

0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180

BAHRAICH

SIDHARTHNAGAR

MAHARAJGANJ

GORAKHPUR

DEORIA

KUSHINAGAR

SANT KABIR NAGAR

N use kg/ha P use kg/ha K use kg/ha

Figure 19: District-wise zinc status of Eastern UP Hub

except N usage in Deoria. The maximum NPK usage is in Deoria followed by

Gorakhpur, Maharajganj, Kushinagar, Sidharthnagar, Sant Kabir nagar and Bahraich. In

most of the district’s the NPK ratio is distorted (Figure 20).

Irrigation Status The net irrigated area (Figure 21) also varies a lot between districts in the hub domain

region with Gorakhpur, Maharjganj, Kushinagar, Deoria and Purba Champaran having

150000- 204685 ha irrigated area and least irrigated area is in Sant Kabir Nagar. The

current data will help the hub team in adoption of better management practices and

prioritize RCTs in the domain region. In addition to that source of irrigation plays a vital

role, data here shows that tubewell is the major source of irrigation in all districts

followed by canal but in Deoria district wells/ponds also play a vital role as an irrigation

source (Figure 22).

Not Available

Figure 21: District-wise irrigated area of Eastern UP Hub

Soil Description

The eastern UP hub domain area faces both waterlogging/flood as well as drought

condition. So in the waterlogging areas drainage is a problem. In some districts like

Maharajganj and Paschim Champaran drainage is imperfect, wheras in Bahraich its

moderate, Siddarthnagar and Purvi Champaran are poorly drained and Sant Kabir Nagar

and Gorakhpur are poor to excessive drained (Figure 23).. The drainage condition of the

soil can help the farmers and hub team to prioritize their RCTs in that region. In most of

the poorly drained soils the soil type is clay type and calcareous in nature, whereas in

well drained soils the soil type is loamy to sand type (Figure 24).

The eastern UP hub domain area faces both waterlogging/flood as well as drought

condition. So in the waterlogging areas drainage is a problem. In some districts like

Maharajganj and Paschim Champaran drainage is imperfect, wheras in Bahraich its

moderate, Siddarthnagar and Purvi Champaran are poorly drained and Sant Kabir Nagar

and Gorakhpur are poor to excessive drained (Figure 23).. The drainage condition of the

soil can help the farmers and hub team to prioritize their RCTs in that region. In most of

the poorly drained soils the soil type is clay type and calacareous in nature, whereas in

well drained soils the soil type is loamy to sand type (Figure 24).

0

20,000

40,000

60,000

80,000

100,000

120,000

140,000

160,000

180,000

200,000

Irrigated area ha by Canals/ channels

Irrigated area ha by Tube wells

Irrigated area ha by wells/ponds/others

Figure 22: District-wise sources of irrigation of Eastern UP Hub

Figure 24: District-wise soil particle size of Eastern UP Hub

Figure 23: District-wise drainage condition of Eastern UP Hub

Figure 25: District-wise soil reaction and pH range of Eastern UP Hub

Figure 26: District-wise soil taxonomy of Eastern UP Hub

The soil pH also varies also a lot in the hub domain districts and soils vary from slightly

acidic (5.5) to moderately alkaline (9.5) in domain areas. In Siddharthnagar the soils are

slightly acidic, whereas in Sant Kabir nagar, Gorakhpur, Deoria, East and west Champran

the soils are neutral to moderate alkaline. Similarly in Bahraich and Maharaganj pH

varies from 7.5 to 9.5 (Figure 25). Similarly taxonomy class vary from aquic

udipsamments to typic ustocrepts (Figure 26).

For any further query, pls contact

1. Dr Neelam Chaudhary- Hub Communication Manager

Address: CIMMYT-India off, DPS Marg, Opp. Dasghara, New Delhi- 110012

Phone: (0) 011 2584 1292; (M) 91 9899003692

Fax: 011 2584 1801

Email: n.chaudhary@cgiar.org; neelamchaudhary@awhere.com

2. Dr John Corbett- President and Chief Executive Officer, aWhere, Inc.

Address:1600 Jackson St, Suite 350, Golden, CO 80401

Phone: (O) 1.303.279.9293, ext. 101; (M): 1.303.875.9010

Fax: 1.303.279.9327

Email: johncorbett@awhere.com

3. Ms Lori Wichhart- Resource Coordinator, aWhere, Inc.

Address:1600 Jackson St, Suite 350, Golden, CO 80401

Phone: (O) 443.676.9020

Email: loriwichhart@awhere.com