Odisha Govt To Provide Smartphones To Women Farmers

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has decided to provide smartphone to the women farmers during the Kharif season this year.

This was announced by the Cooperation minister Surya Narayan Patro here on Sunday.

The minister said while the state government, which has provided smartphones to the male farmers, will also provide the same to the poor women farmers which would enable them to know about the tips provided by the Agriculture department about the type of crops they should grow for better and higher produce depending on nature of the soil and the climatic condition.

“This apart, they would be able to know about the weather in advance as well as the details regarding the crop loan scheme of the state government.

“To get the smartphone, the women farmers have to apply online for which the Cooperation department will open a new portal. Considering that there are few women farmers in the state, the Cooperation department will provide smartphone to about 70 percent of the women farmers in the first phase as per the directive of the chief minister,” Patro added.

Informing that the state government has decided for a loan sanction of about Rs 7,600 crore to farmers during the Kharif season, the minister said his department has already informed the farmers through advertisements to register their names to avail the loans.