The State targets to invest around Rs 402 crore in the Rastriya Krushi Vikash Yojana (RKVY). The scheme’s implementation was discussed at a State-level sanctioning committee meeting held under chairmanship of Chief Secretary Gokul Chandra Pati on Wednesday.
Agriculture Principal Secretary Rajesh Verma presented the updates and outlined the issues for discussion. Reviewing the proposals, the Chief Secretary directed the department to undertake agriculture extension works through progressive farmers and field demonstration. The department was also directed to complete preparation of comprehensive State agricultural plan within a week.
It was revealed that a total of 447 projects have been taken up under the RKVY out of which 264 are in various stages of completion. Hundred per cent of the utilisation of the Central share of the scheme during previous years has been updated. The Central and State Governments have to release further grants. The RKVY is financed with 50:50 per cent of funds from Central and State Governments.
The meeting finalised nine major projects under the BGREI for 2015-16. These projects include cluster demonstration, seed production, seed distribution, nutrient management, soil ameliorants, integrated pest management, asset building, site-specific activities, post-harvest management, marketing support and cropping system-based trainings.
The meeting also discussed 31 other projects of various departments proposed to be taken up under the RKVY. The Chief Secretary directed the Agriculture Principal Secretary to review the progress of individual projects under each department and warned that the projects proposed by slow-moving departments would not be considered for sanction. The departments were directed to expedite implementation of the ongoing projects and complete them within the scheduled time.
Development Commissioner UN Behera, Additional Chief Secretary (Finance) R Balakrishnan, Water Resources Principal Secretary Pradeep Kumar Jena, Agriculture Commissioner Pramod Meherda along with senior officers from various departments and experts from the OUAT participated in discussions.