Naveen Makes Odisha’s Agri Policy 2020 More Farmer-Centric

Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Monday categorically announced that increasing the farmers’ income and contributing to their welfare was one of the main objectives of ‘Samrudhi,’ Odisha’s new agriculture policy for 2020.

Speaking at the 5-day event Krushi Odisha-2020 conclave at Janata Maidan in Bhubaneswar, he said, “My government is dedicatedly working towards development of farmers. My aim is to hike farmers’ income under the new agriculture policy.”

Crop diversification, market linkage, use of technology and diversification from paddy to high-income crops during the Rabi season are some of the focus areas of the new policy.

“The state government is working towards the development of farmers. KALIA scheme has enhanced the prestige of the farmers. I want farmers to make extensive use of new technology and become partners and the face of development,” said the CM.

Besides being the third largest contributor to the country’s public distribution system (PDS), Odisha has won the Krishi Karman Award for six consecutive times for food grain production.  

Here is how Odisha has fared on the agriculture front:

• It contributes 3 per cent to the country’s total agricultural GDP.
• The state’s agricultural GDP doubled between 2001 and 2016-17 in real terms with an average growth of 4.5 per cent, which is higher than the national average.
• Farmers’ income has increased by 7 per cent than what it was during 2002-2003.