Economy

Cash Crops

Among cash crops, fibre crops are specially important. Jute accounts for the maximum area and turn out among all the cash crops. Odisha (Orissa) is the fourth largest producer of jute after West Bengal, Bihar and Assam. Rice and jute, compete with each other as they require almost similar soil and climatic conditions. Cultivation of jute is primarily confined to the coastal plains of Cuttack, Balasore and Puri districts.

A considerable amount of Mesta is also cultivated. It dominates in the districts of Cuttack, Ganjam, Balangir and Koraput districts.

Sugarcane is the second most important cash crop in Odisha (Orissa) in area as well as production. It is grown in irrigated areas. Odisha (Orissa) stands eighth in sugarcane production in India. A considerable amount of cultivation occurs in Cuttack, Sambalpur, Balangir, Kalahandi and Puri districts, Odisha (Orissa) also produces a small quantity of tobacco. In cash crop production, Cuttack district tops the list.

New Cash Crops

Among the new cash crops, the most important is cashew which has been planted extensively in the low level latiritic plateaus at the foothills of the Eastern Ghats. These cashew plantations are mostly confined to Cuttack, Puri and Ganjam districts. The Cashew Plantation Board is responsible for the development of cashew cultivation in the state. Cashew is also being planted on the sand-dunes on the entire coastal belt. This is because of the suitable edaphic and climatic conditions in these areas. On the  degraded and deforested hills of the Eastern Ghats, cashew is planted to check soil erosion. As a result, Odisha (Orissa) is earning a lot of foreign exchange by exporting cashew through Paradeep.

Rubber Plantations

To protect the degraded hill slopes of Eastern Ghats, rubber plantation have been taken up by Rubber Board. Bright prospect for the growth and development of natural rubber exist in the northern Odisha (Orissa) - Mayurbhanj, Kendujhar and Baleshwar due to favourable agro-climatic conditions. Odisha (Orissa) is a non-traditional area for rubber plantations. Inland hill areas of Cuttack, Puri, Ganjam and Dhenkanal districts have agro-climatic conditions suitable for rubber cultivation.

Cotton Cultivation

Cotton cultivation has been taken up extensively in Koraput, Balangir and Kalahandi districts where suitable soil and climate conditions are found. Sea island cotton can be grown in the Ballipal region of Baleswar district.

Tea

It is concentrated in areas of Eastern Ghats, Kendujhar, mountainous region of Phulbani and Koraput.

Coffee

It is concentrated in forest lands of Eastern Ghats, Koraput, Kalhandi, Malkangiri, Rayagada, G.Udayagiri and Balliguda areas of Kanohanthal district.

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