Fish Processing Training Centre To Be Set Up In Western Odisha: Union Minister

Sambalpur: The Central government will set up a modern fish processing training centre in western Odisha at a cost of around Rs 100 crore, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has announced.

Speaking at a ‘Kisan Samman Samaroh’ in Sambalpur on Monday, the Union Minister said that the Centre is also planning to establish an ESI hospital in the region. Work has also been initiated on a proposal to revive the Nildungri market terminal.

Similarly, plans are afoot to convert the College of Agriculture, Chiplima into a separate agricultural school. Introduction of Agroforestry course for forest produce is also being planned, he said.

The aim is to bring fulfilment in the lives of around 15 million people who live in Sambalpur district in line with the BJP-led government’s ‘Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas’ motto, Pradhan said, adding that the Centre is committed to make Sambalpur a centre of agriculture and rural-based economy.

Stating that 1.20 lakh farmers of Sambalpur have received benefits of Rs 120 crore under PM-KISAN and CM-KISAN schemes, the Minister said around 32 lakh quintal of paddy worth Rs 976 crore have been procured at a revised MSP of Rs 3,100 per quintal. Of the total amount, the Central government has paid Rs 724 crore for the paddy purchased from farmers and the state has borne the rest Rs 252 crore, he said.

The Minister further stated that around 2.60 lakh women in Sambalpur have received about Rs 260 crore under Subhadra Yojana. Women have been provided interest-free loans of more than Rs 425 crore. Moreover, around Rs 5,000 crore was provided as loans to farmers at low interest rates.