The Government has sanctioned 39 new projects in agriculture and allied sectors for implementation in different parts of the State.
The projects were approved in the State level Sanctioning Committee meeting held under the Chairmanship of Chief Secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi.
Padhi directed the implementing departments and agencies to focus on post-harvesting, value addition and marketing support to the farmers so that they get more price for their products.
Further, the Chief Secretary directed that right type of people should be nurtured in the incubation centers so that they actually grow as entrepreneurs after coming out of the center. The Horticulture department was directed to support betel vine cultivation on private lands in Jagatsingpur district. Considering multiplicity of agricultural advisories being issued from different sources, the Chief Secretary directed to integrate these sources and issue the advisories from single source for convenience of the farmers. Principal Secretary Sourav Garg said, “The 39 new projects are worth around Rs 365 crore and they would be completed within one to three years.” The projects will be funded both by the Central and State Governments on 60:40 sharing basis under the Rashtriya Kurishi Vikash Yojana (RKVY). The major sanctioned projects include holistic development of Sakhigopal coconut farm, formation and operationalisation of farmers’ producer groups in Ganjam district, developing model livestock farm for promotion of entrepreneurship and capacity building, development of ICT based forwarding system for major insect and pests diseases, establishment of farmers’ counseling center at Panchayat level, enhancing food and nutrition security of small and marginal farmers in Koraput district, enhancing fish production in water reservoirs of the State, online payment system to milk producers, modern diary parlor through e-cat, construction of 10 multipurpose agricultural godowns, construction of drying yards, expansion of sweet potato cultivation, expansion of betel vine in Jagatsinghpur district, compost production from urban waste, establishment of center of excellence on organic farming, establishment of incubation center for micro-entrepreneurs, mobile based customized advisory to the farmers, promotion of sustainable livelihood for tribal households in OTElP plus programme, reclamation of problematic soil etc. Sources said so far 646 major projects have been implemented in the State under the RKVY. Out of these 414 projects have been completed and 232 projects are under implementation.
The projects are being implemented through 26 departments and agencies.