Regional Conference Reviews Major Schemes of DoAFW

Bhubaneswar: A regional conference here has reviewed various major schemes of the Union Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare department in the eastern region of the country.

The conference was attended by senior officials of the agriculture department of Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha and West Bengal.

State’s Agriculture & Farmers Empowerment Department Principal Secretary Dr. Arabinda Kumar Padhee said that Odisha has planned ‘Balabhadra Jaivik Chasa Mission’ to promote climate-friendly farming in the agricultural sector.

It has eliminated gender inequality in agriculture and encouraged the use of  technology in agriculture and geo-tagging of agricultural land through ‘e-chasa’ app.

The digital crop survey method is capable of obtaining accurate data about crops cultivation, he said adding through rice fallow management, the production of 6 types of pulses and 2 types of oilseeds has been increased in the state using 4 lakh hectares of fallow agricultural land.

Notably, a few days ago, an International Symposium on Shree Anna and Forgotten Foods was organized to promote Odisha’s traditional food and agricultural heritage.

Bill Gates, the founder of Microsoft, visited Odisha Krushi Bhavan while on a visit to Odisha, praised Odisha’s Krushi Samrudhi Helpline.

Attending the conference, Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja said that Odisha is currently strengthening the irrigation infrastructure for agriculture.

“Recently, paddy is being procured at Rs 3100 per quintal and insurance is being provided to the farmers,” he said.

Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Secretary Dr. Devesh Chaturvedi praised the major schemes launched by the Odisha Agriculture Department.

The conference reviewed various schemes in four sessions. Later, central schemes such as Rashtriya Krushi Vikash Yojana National, Krushi Unnati Yojana, PM Jan Jatiya Unnat Abhiyan, Digital Agriculture Mission, Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, Oilseeds Mission etc. were reviewed.