In view of shortage of essential vegetables, the State Government has decided to construct more cold storage on public-private partnership (PPP) mode for stocking the vegetables. During a review of the activities of Agriculture and Fisheries and Animal Resources Development (FARD) Departments in the presence of the Chief Minister on Friday, it was decided to build 150 cold storages of 7,47,280-MT capacity by 2019. Minister Agriculture & FARD Pradeep Maharathy, Chief Secretary GC Pati and Development Commissioner UN Behera were among those present. The Chief Minister wanted a hike in vegetable production to nine lakh tonnes in 5,000 hectares of land using advanced technology.
He also issued directive to fill up 1,017 vacant posts of Agricultural Technical Extension Officer by the end of this year.For post-harvesting preservation, it was decided to construct a concrete yard in each district by 2017 to enable at least 5,000 farmers to dry paddy.The CM directed to double the fish production by 2019 and prepare a scheme to produce one crore eggs and 4.8 MT milk by the year 2019. The FARD would provide pucca houses to fishermen living in kutcha houses, in a phased manner in coordination with the Panchayati Raj Department.
live Stock Inspector posts would be filled up very soon in every gram panchayat, it was further decided.The FARD was asked to prepare a precise fishery policy and place before the State Cabinet within a month.The meeting also discussed the forecast of inadequate rainfall during the current monsoon.