Agriculture and Farmers Empowerment Minister Ranendra Pratap Swain inaugurated a mega agriculture fair, ‘Paschima Odisha Krushi Mela 2023’ in the PHED ground here on Friday in presence of all the senior officials of the department and also district administration.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, as the chief guest, also addressed the gathering -mainly farmers-- through virtual mode and appealed to them to go for machines for agriculture activities to save time and energy and increase production and achieve economic empowerment thereby.
He also mentioned about the Millet Mission for which Odisha is now under discussion both in national and international arena. “We have also bagged the most prestigious Krushi Karmana Award from the Government of India and the entire credit for this goes to our farmers,” the CM said.
Agriculture Minister Swain, in his long speech, began from starvation in Kalahandi to present state of affairs of overproduction in the State. However, the Minister stressed on crop diversification and off-season vegetable cultivation to earn more.
Chairman of the Western Odisha Development Council Asit Tripathy also reiterated the council’s initiatives to financially boost the farming community. The RDC (ND) Dr Suresh Dalei, MLA of Kuchinda Kishore Nayak, Zilla Parishad Chairperson Kumudini Nayak, Collector Ananay Das among others spoke.
The fair which will continue for five days is jointly organized by the Agriculture Department, WODC and FICCI. Swain felicitated different persons for their unique achievements in different branches of agriculture, horticulture and animal husbandry.
