The Odisha government allocated Rs 24,829 crore to the agriculture sector in the annual budget for the financial year 2023-24 which was presented in the State Legislative Assembly on Friday.
While presenting the full-fledged budget of Rs 2.3 lakh crore for the financial year 2023-24, Odisha Finance Minister Niranjan Pujari said the proposed allocation for the agriculture sector is 20 per cent more than what was allocated last year and three times the Budget Estimate during 2016-17.
Besides, there is a provision of Rs 2,000 crore for revolving fund to be utilised for paddy procurement operations, Pujari added.
While Rs 381 crore has been proposed under Horticulture Development Programme, Rs121 crore is proposed under National Horticulture Mission for integrated development of horticulture.
Similarly, Rs 388 crore has been proposed towards subsidy for capital investment for the establishment of commercial agri enterprises and for popularisation of agricultural implements and diesel pump sets.
Moreover, Rs250 crore has been allocated to “Soura Jalanidhi” programme to harness renewable source of energy, especially in power inaccessible areas. Apart from that it is proposed to provide Rs 45 crore under State Incentive for Micro irrigation, Pujari informed the House.
Further, Rs 306 crore has been proposed under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) to ensure the holistic development of agriculture and allied sectors in the State.
Odisha government will spend Rs 367 Crore for the next five years for implementation of the “Empowerment of Women in Agriculture- Promotion of Entrepreneurship for Women SHG” to ensure sustainable income generation of women beneficiaries / WSHGs to make the State a net exporter of mushroom & high-value flowers over the mission period. An allocation of Rs.100 crore has been proposed under Mission on Floriculture and Mushroom.
“Our Government has approved Mukhyamantri Disaster Resilient Saline Embankment Project. Under this scheme, around 200 km of saline embankments in Balasore, Bhadrak, Kendrapada and Puri will be strengthened with the technical support of the National Institute of Ocean Technology, Chennai. Strengthening of flood control embankments and drainage improvement works will be done in vulnerable areas for which a sum of Rs 961 crore has been proposed in the budget,” the minister said.