By Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, March 14, 2015 :

Odisha continues to remain one of the most backward states in agriculture sector though it has been claiming to have got the award from the centre for highest food grains production.

The state is ranked 11^th in terms of agricultural production, according to a reply by the agriculture minister, Pradip Maharathy to a question by legislator, Dilip Ray.

The eastern state finds its position among the second category of states in food grains production, the minister admitted. Top 10 states leading in food grains productions include undivided Andrha Pradesh, Bihar, Haryana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.

Ironically, the most backward Bihar is much ahead of Odisha in food grains production as produces more than 10 million ton of food production against the state’s 8.3 million ton.

Odisha has a meager 28% irrigation coverage against the national average of 45%. Punjab tops in the list with 98%, Haryana [85%], Bihar [62%], Andhra Pradesh [49%], Tamil Nadu [58%], Uttar Pradesh [76%] and West Bengal [58%], Ray said quoting the Economic Survey.