To boost the farming sector and farmers’ income, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik launched the State Agriculture Policy called ‘SAMRIDHI’ at the inaugural function of a five-day agriculture expo, ‘Krushi Odisha-2020’, held at the Janata Maidan here on Monday.
“My Government is dedicatedly working towards development of farmers and my aim is to hike farmers’ income under the new agriculture policy,” said the Chief Minister at the expo which is themed ‘Leading Farmers to Profitability’.
Highlighting the KALIA scheme, he said that the scheme has enhanced the prestige of farmers.
“I want the farmers to live with dignity and use new technology. By using new technology, our farmers will become the face of development,” the CM asserted, adding, “I want my farmers and their families live happily. My Government is always with you.”
He urged the farmers to take benefit of the five-day event. Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment Minister Arun Kumar Sahoo said that the department organises the annual flagship agri-fair to shift traditional methods of farming to modern methods and incorporate technical knowhow in farming.
Apart from focusing on improvement of farmers’ income and development of agricultural sector, the government also aims to improve various aspects like horticulture, fisheries, animal resources development through the event, he added.
Mentioning about the mascot, ‘Mandia’ and slogan, ‘Labha Janaka Krushi, Chasi Ku Miliba Khushi’, he said that this platform would provide farmers exposure to latest technological developments, market linkage, value addition and sourcing of products from Odisha.
The Minister expressed happiness saying that nowadays many youths are being attracted towards agricultural sector and informed that a meeting would be organised on January 24 at the venue to motivate them further.
As many as 218 stalls have been put up by 112 national and international companies to spread knowledge on modern farming techniques.
A and FE Principal Secretary Dr Saurabh Garg, FICCI Secretary General, Dilip Chenoy, APC and ACS Pradipta Kumar Mohapatra, Union Fertiliser Secretary Chhabilendra Roul and Fisheries and ARD Secretary R Raghu Prasad also spoke.
On the occasion, the Chief Minister felicitated the successful farmers for their achievements and distributed appointment letters to the new recruited AHOs.
The inaugural day marked a meeting between CEOs of various multinational agriculture companies held under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary Asit Kumar Tripathy. Issues of market linkage, technological advancements, better food crop production and right market for right produce were discussed.
Measures for enhancing milk and milk products, development of animal resources and movement from traditional crops towards cash crops were also discussed.
Discussions on easy availability of credit and loans to farmers, managing financial resources and other such issues would be held with more than 500 bank executives on second day.
‘Panchayati Raj Institution’ members would talk on the ‘Role of Women SHGs in Farming’ on third day.
The policy was named ‘SAMRIDHI’ in view of its key points of leveraging science and technology, adaptation to climate change, markets (domestic and global), resource-use efficiency, creating appropriate infrastructure, diversification of production, human resource upgrading and skilling and strengthening institutions.
