Naveen Releases Over Rs 800 Crore For Farmers Under KALIA Scheme

Bhubaneswar: Chief minister Naveen Patnaik released around Rs 800 crore for the farmers under the state government’s Krushak Assistance for Livelihood and Income Augmentation (KALIA) scheme on the occasion of Askhay Tritiya on Tuesday.

Speaking at a function through video-conference organised on the occasion, the chief minister said the fund has been deposited in the bank account of around 40 lakh farmers of all districts except Jharsuguda. Each farmer will get Rs 2,000 under the scheme for Kharif crop. Jharsuguda has been excluded from the benefit due to byelection to Brajrajngar Assembly seat in the district.

Thanking the farmers for their contribution to the state’s economy, he said they play a significant role in ensuring food security to not only Odisha but also entire country.

The chief minister also launched 8 new programmes for development of agriculture on the occasion. Those include Panasa (jackfruit) Mission and Rejuvenating Watershed for Agricultural Resilience through Innovative Development (Reward).

Stating that the government has made an allocation of more than Rs 20,000 crore under agriculture budget, Naveen said Rs 97 crore has been allocated for the Jackfruit Mission and Rs 500 crore for Reward to improve the productivity of cultivable land through equitable distribution of irrigation.

Similarly, an allocation of Rs 2,808 crore has been made for the farmers of 182 blocks in 19 districts under the Millet Mission and Rs 239 crore to include 1.8 lakh farmers of 8 districts under Special Programme for Promotion of Integrated Farming, he said.

The chief minister inaugurated ‘Krushak Odisha’ portal on the occasion. The farmers can update their data on the portal to get necessary services and advices under the portal. Similarly, ‘Go-Sugam’ portal was also launched for the benefit of cattle farmers.

Agriculture Minister Arun Sahoo also spoke on the occasion and farmers from different districts interacted with the chief minister.