The Opposition in State Assembly on Thursday lambasted the State Government for its failure to develop agriculture and empower farmers in the State.
While the BJP and Congress MLAs rubbished the State Government's claim of doubling farmer's income, paying timely compensation under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) and bringing more land under irrigation cover, the Government blamed the Centre for not providing State's share under various farming activities and under Central Government schemes.
Deputy Leader of Opposition (BJP) Bishnu Charan Sethy targeted the Minister for shifting blame on the Central Government rather than answering questions of the Opposition members. Congress MLAs Tarai Prasad Bahinipati, Santosh Singh Saluja and Suresh Kumar Routray held the State Government responsible for the distress of farmers and agrarian crisis.
BJP MLA Mukesh Mahalinga said there is a large scale mismatch on irrigation data provided by the Department and the CAG. He also alleged that the data regarding farmer's income varies with State and Central reports. Not only that, the Millet Mission and other schemes have failed to boost agricultural activities in the State, he said.
The State produced record 130.39 lakh MT food grains during the year 2020-21. For the bumper food productions, the State Government has received Krushi Karman award from the Central Government consecutively for five years from 2010-11 to 2016-17, said State Agriculture and Farmers Empowerment Minister Ranendra Pratap Swain during the discussion in the House on Thursday.
As agriculture is the mainstay of the State, a major portion of State's population depends on cultivation for source of livelihoods and a sizable chunk of State's income (20.61 per cent) comes from the sector, the Minister said.
That's why the State Government puts special emphasis on agriculture and through a 'Samrudhi' policy for agricultural development bringing out special Agriculture Budget. This year's agricultural outlay was Rs 21,166 crore, Swain mentioned.
Replying to a demand for expenditures, a statement from the department highlighted that 'Mo Sarkar' guidelines have been implemented under the 5T scheme to bring all services and programmes of the department under its ambit.
It said, to ensure nutrition security through minor millets, the State Millet Mission was started since 2016-17, a first of its kind in the country. To boost production of millets 81,600 hectares land was brought under the scheme spread over 142 blocks in 19 districts. During the last year as many as 3.23 lakh quintal raggi was produced and it has targeted to enhance production to 6 lakh quintal, the Minister told.
Under the public distribution system, 50 lakh families were provided with two kg raggi each. Similarly, through ICDS, 1.48 lakh children were also provided raggi cake.
Under State Government's KALIA scheme implemented since 2018, 53.56 lakh small and marginal farmers (2020-21), 38.78 lakh small and marginal farmers and 17.22 lakh landless farmers in 2021-22 and 40.22 lakh small and marginal farmers in 2022-23 (till now) were provided with assistance.
To facilitate financial assistance for sharecroppers through the financial institutions, the State Government has started BALARAM scheme in association with the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD). As many as one lakh Joint Liability Group formed with five lakh farmers would get benefits of the scheme.
Apart from these, the State Government has initiated farm mechanisation, promoted women SHGs to undertake horticultural activities, took up soil conservation and watersheds, sponsored new research for seeds and food grains and developed extension activities, Swain said.
