Bhubaneswar: In another step towards enhancing farmers’ income, the state government on Wednesday sanctioned 47 new projects in agriculture, food production and allied sectors for implementation during 2017-18.
The projects were sanctioned at the State Level Sanctioning Committee Meeting of Rastriya Krushi Vikash Yojana (RKVY) chaired by Chief Secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi in the state secretariat.
Principal Secretary Agriculture and Cooperation Manoj Kumar Ahuja outlined the issues for discussion during the meeting.
The concerned departments presented various technical, administrative and financial facets of the proposed projects.
While giving nod to the projects, the Chief Secretary directed officials to make the projects more outcome oriented and ensure that each project adds to farmers’ production and productivity.
Replying to a media query after the meeting, Principal Secretary Agriculture Ahuja said that 50 project proposals were examined in the meeting. Forty seven projects involving investment of around Rs.150 were sanctioned. These projects would be taken up during the current financial year.
The major projects sanctioned included Crop insurance decision support system with technology application, setting up of State Bio Pesticide laboratory, Renovation of seed testing laboratory, e-Paste surveillance and management of vegetable crop, setting up of Biological control laboratory, establishment of Mini soil testing laboratory, Alternate seed system for rain fed crops, Cold store centric Potato incentivization programme, development of Tanks and ponds for Intensive aquaculture, establishment of Multiplication center and hatchery for producing genetically improved Tilapia which would provide more income to small scale farmers, establishment of an operational blood bank for cattle in Odisha, development of modern wholesale market at Mohura, Bhubaneswar, Development of modern wholesale market at Rourkela, enhancing livelihood through value-chain intervention.
RKVY was started in Odisha in the year 2007-08. Till now, around 615 major projects have been implemented in the state under the scheme. Out of these, 379 projects have been completed and the rest 236 projects are ongoing as per year wise time schedule. The scheme is run with funding support from Central and state government on 60: 40 ratio.
For the year 2017-18, Union government so far has allocated Rs. 205.19 crores against which Govt of Odisha has provided RS.136.79 crores.
Sources said Govt of Odisha has made budgetary provision of Rs 707.55 crores against the scheme for the year 2017-18.
Agriculture Production Commissioner Gagan Kumar Dhal, Additional Chief Secretary Forest & Environment Suresh Chandra Mohapatra, Principal Secretary Finance Tuhin Kanta Pandey, Joint Secretary, Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare Govt of India A. Neeroja along with the Principal Secretaries, Secretaries and senior officers of the concerned departments participated in the deliberations.
Ms Kalinga