The Nabard conducted a State level workshop on DEDS (Dairy Entrepreneurship Development Scheme) on Wednesday here.
The workshop was inaugurated by Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment, Fisheries & Animal Resources Development Minister Dr Damodar Rout. Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Fisheries & Animal Resources Development Vishal Gagan was the guest of honour.
Senior officials from AH and Fisheries department, major commercial banks, RRBs, Orissa State Cooperative Bank, OMFED and Milk Mantra attended.
Nabard CGM Dr KC Panigrahi highlighted the contributions of Nabard in the country and in the State in all spheres of agriculture and rural development. He emphasised on the importance of dairy sector in employment and income generation amongst rural people and called upon the bankers to finance under the sector and avail admissible subsidy under DEDS through Nabard. He indicated that Nabard is very prompt in sanctioning subsidy, which thereafter is disbursed on receipt of necessary fund from Government of India.
Vishal Gagan lauded the Nabard for organising the workshop. He indicated that there is no dearth of schemes and funds for development of dairy sector in the State. He advised the banks to give more and more credit at ground level and avail subsidy under the sector. He expected that the target of subsidy disbursement amounting Rs 3.17 crore during 2017-18 in the State under DEDS as also Rs 1.07 crore under NlM (EDEG) will be achieved with the cooperation of all concerned. He called upon the banks to be the change agents in this regard.
Minister Rout indicated that such workshop where free exchange of ideas takes place amongst various stakeholders, creates awareness, enhance productivity and generated employment in agriculture and allied sector. He advised all to introspect what we can do with vast natural resources, various schemes and fund at our disposal for betterment of rural people in the State. He emphasised the need for developing strong market linkages in the State so that farmers get remunerative prices for their produce.