Odisha Budget 2020-21: Agriculture Sector Gets Major Share; KALIA Funds Down By Rs 2,416 Crore

Bhubaneswar: With an objective to boost the socio-economic growth of the farmers, the Odisha government has proposed a massive allocation for the Agriculture and allied sector (13 per cent) in the annual budget 2020-21.

While presenting the annual budget 2020-21 in the State Assembly on Tuesday, Finance Minister Niranjan Pujari said that the allocation for agriculture has been pegged at Rs 19408 crore, which is about three times that of 2013-14 budget (Rs 7000 crore).

Mentioned below are the allocations earmarked for the agriculture and allied sector

KALIA Scheme
While Rs 5115 crore has been transferred to 43 lakh farmers, another Rs 3195 crore will be transferred in 2021. It is Rs 2,416 crore less than 2019-20 (Rs 5,611 crore).

The budget has, however, provisioned an additional Rs 110 crore under the KALIA scheme for farmers welfare.

Agriculture Research
Rs 150 crore has been provided for research and infrastructure development of the Odisha University of Agriculture Technology (OUAT).

Irrigation
—In-stream barrages to be built with Rs 12000 crore in 5 years of which Rs 1100 crore has been allocated for this year.

—All pending irrigation projects would be taken up for expeditious completion this year with an allocation of Rs 1181 crore.

—Mega-lift irrigation projects allocated Rs 540 crore.

—Rooftop rainwater harvesting projects allocated Rs 35 crore.

—All ongoing projects will be completed in 2021.

— However, the irrigation allocation saw a dip of 2.85 per cent

Agricultural Credit
—Rs 43282 crore for agricultural credit to be provided in 2020-21.

— An increase of 200 per cent allocation to Rs 705 crore as interest subvention to provide farmers with zero per cent interest loans.

—Rs 700 crore allocated to provide crop insurance to the farmers.

Animal Husbandry and Fishery
—An increase of 35 per cent allocation totalling to Rs 1211 crore.

—Allocation of Rs 10 crore to set up a Centre of Excellence in Veterinary Science.