Once again, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik skipped Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s official programme in the State and attended an inaugural ceremony of a five-day Krushi Odisha Sammilani, an annual farmers’ convention at the Baramunda ground here on Tuesday.
The ruling BJD organised the parallel event to counter Modi’s second visit to the State in less than two weeks ahead of the general elections.
Addressing the gathering, the CM highlighted various benefits of the recently-launched KALIA scheme for farmers.
“KALIA is an ideal scheme for farmers of the entire nation. I will be happy if farmers utilise the monetary assistance provided under the scheme and, thereby, increase their income,” said Patnaik.
He further said that with the support of farmers, Odisha has been awarded with the Krishi Karman Award for five times. “In 2014, the Odisha Government had promised to irrigate 10 hectares of land. So far, 8 hectares of land has been provided with irrigation facility. We will achieve the target by April this year,” the CM added.
Earlier on January 5, the CM had skipped the Modi’s official programme at Baripada and, instead, attended a State-level convention of women SHGs where he announced to provide loan to the SHGs with zero-per cent interest under the Mission Shakti programme. However, he had joined the PM in a programme at Argul in Jatni during the latter’s visit to the State on December 24.
The Krushi Odisha Sammilani aims at sensitising farmers about digitalistaion and use of advance technologies in the agriculture sector, said an official on the occasion. Hundreds of farmers from several districts across the State participated in the event.