With the Odisha Government making efforts to reform markets under its new Agriculture Policy, the State looks set to take lead in deliberations in the June 15 NITI Aayog Governing Council meeting on the issue of transforming agriculture through structural reforms.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik would attend the meeting to be held at New Delhi where he and his counterparts of various States are expected to deliberate on the issue of transforming agriculture, said sources.
While the Odisha Government has already prepared a draft of the State Agriculture Policy (SAP) 2019, Patnaik is expected to make major intervention on the issue.
Besides agriculture transformation, CMs would also deliberate on rain water harvesting, drought situation and relief operations, Aspirational District Programmes and Maoist menace.
While the Prime Minister is harping on increasing farmers’ income, the State Government is moving in a big way to set up Gramin Agricultural Markets (GrAM)s to sell agriculture produces and allied products in the nearby markets and boost their income.
Rainwater harvesting is taken up seriously by the State Government as it is simple, viable and eco-friendly method of water conservation. Rainwater harvesting is likely to help Odisha in achieving its target of providing pipe water to all the households in urban areas by December 2019.
During deliberation on drought management and relief measures, the State would harp on revision of funding norms of the State Disaster
Response Fund (SDRF), added sources.
As regards to Aspirational District Programes, Odisha would stress on availing additional funds for backward districts, which is yet to be done by the NITI Aayog. By February 2019, Rs 974 crore had been provided to 117 such districts across the country, which is very small amount to implement such a big agenda.
The Chief Minister is also expected to seek more funds for construction of roads and rail lines and telecommunication connectivity to contain LWE menace in the State.