Cash Crops-Missing Momentum

Cash Crops Missing Momentum WHILE foodgrains production has made significant strides since 1967-68, cash crops have had little share so tar in the 'green revolution'. In 1967-68, there was a general improvement but in the very next year oilseeds, jute and cotton production declined sharply, though sugarcane production was slightly better. In 1969-70, production of oilseeds, jute and sugarcane rose sizeably and the Economic Survey for 1970-71 had forecast that 1970-71 would finally present a mixed picture with oilseeds registering a rise, sugarcane being at about the same level, and jute and cotton being .somewhat lower. Latest reports have it that jute, cotton and sugarcane, all showed a downtrend last year. A comparison with the Fourth Plan's output targets for 197-3-74 show the vast ground yet to be covered. Against the target of 80 lakh bales, the production of cotton in 1970-71 was 16 lakh bales; and against the target of 74 lakh bales, production of jute was 49 lakh bales. Sugarcane was better off: against a target of 15 million tonnes, production was 13.19 million tonnes. This year, however, the jute and cotton crops are better, but the oilseeds crop has suffered owing to drought in various producing areas and sugarcane has shown no marked rise alter 1969-