Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Sunday urged Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Radha Mohan Singh to establish a Farm Machinery Training and Testing Institute (CFMT & TI) in Odisha at the earliest.
‘The State has 10 agro-climatic zones and, hence, there is a need to ensure quick testing of implements / machinery developed for different agro climatic conditions of the State and provide training facilities on operation, repair and maintenance of such machineries. The establishment of a CFMTTI will certainly serve the purpose,’ the Chief Minister wrote to the Union Minister.
He apprised Singh that the CFMTTI located at Biswanathcharialli in Assam meant for the eastern States is unable to meet the need of Odisha to the desired extent.
The Chief Minister further mentioned that the State Government has enhanced subsidy in its State Agriculture Policy, 2013 for widespread of farm machinery. As a result, the farm power input has increased from 1.32 kwH/Ha during 2012-13 to 1.45 kwH/Ha during 2014-15. The State is providing subsidy of around Rs 250 crore annually for this purpose.