Opposition Congress and BJP Members on Wednesday slammed the State Government over its failures in creating irrigation facilities and providing required supports to famers.

Initiating a discussion on Demand for Grants of the Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment Department, BJP Member Bishnu Charan Sethi alleged that the State Government has failed providing supports to farmers during its long years of rule.

While 60 per cent of farmers are dependent on agriculture, the Government has not given any focus in developing agriculture and allied sectors.

BJP Member Mohan Charan Majhi lamented saying that the income of the farmer families in Odisha has remained very low compared to farmers of other States. While farmer families of Punjab and Haryana earn an average of Rs 23,133 and Rs 18,936 per month respectively, Odisha farmer families earn Rs 7,733 only. The farmers’ suicide cases are on the rise in Odisha due to callous attitude of the State Government, he alleged.

Congress Member Santos Singh Saluja alleged that farmers are suffering a lot as they are not being provided support by the State Government. The State is not self-sufficient in paddy, potato, poultry, fish and egg production, he told.

Alleging that the Government is always providing untrue data in the House, Saluja suggested that the Government create awareness among farmers to take to cultivations  of various cash crops and vegetables. 

Ruling members like Prafulla Samal, Pramod Mallick and Anant Das refuted charges of the opposition Members and made various suggestions for further development in agriculture sector.

Following discussions, expenditure of Rs 8874,48,54,000 presented by Finance Minister Niranjan Pujari on behalf of Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment Minister Dr Arun Kumar Sahoo was passed.