Emphasising on computerisation of Primary Agricultural Cooperative Societies (PACSs) and creation of wide opportunity for marketing of agricultural products, Chief Secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi has directed the concerned officials to expedite the implementation of these processes.
Reviewing the performance of the Cooperation Department at the State Secretariat here on Wednesday, Padhi directed the officials to take up on priority basis internet connection facility to the PACS in the unbanked panchayats.
With the availability of internet connection, the PACS would be able to provide banking service in the panchayats, he said. Official sources said that meanwhile, the core banking facility has been executed in the District Cooperative Banks. With computerisation by March-end, the system would be expanded to the PACS.
Padhi said out of the 2,600 PACS in the State, 2,011 have been computerised so far. There is no internet connection in 841 PACS, where the internet would be provided through V-SAT.
Besides, he wanted to stimulate the PACS at the ground level for timely payment of loans to the farmers and providing seeds and other agricultural assistance. He also emphasised on providing assistance for developing the necessary infrastructure for sale of agricultural products.
Agriculture & Cooperation Principal Secretary Manoj Ahuja told reporters that Odisha is a leading State in computerising the PACS which would help immensely in extending various facilities including RuPay card to farmers when completed.
A decision was also taken to amend the existing law to improve the marketing system of agricultural products. A new draft for the purpose would be tabled in the State legislative Assembly soon, he added.
He said there is progress in the projects for creating storage facility for the paddy crop. The storages have been created through the RMCs, the Warehousing Corporation and the PACS. Space has been kept vacant at the Warehousing Corporation storages for storing 50,000-60,000 metric tonne paddy this year.
Meanwhile, an MoU has been inked between the OSAM Board and the Engineering Projects India limited for setting up of 11 cold storages in the State, and construction of the storages would be completed by March next year, he further informed.
The Chief Secretary directed officials to encourage private investment in this field.