'50 lakh farmers received assistance under KALIA scheme'

Bhubaneswar: As many as 50 lakh farmers have received financial assistance under the Krushak Assistance for Livelihood and Income Augmentation (KALIA) scheme till date, and verification is on to include the left-out farmers, informed Odisha Agriculture Minister Arun Sahoo today.

Speaking on the sidelines of a function at Krishi Bhawan here, Sahoo further added that the State government has targeted to procure 55 lakh metric tonne paddy this year's agricultural season. But, it has so far collected 65 lakh metric tonne i.e. 10 lakh metric tonne more than the targeted quantity."

In his reaction, OPCC chief Niranjan Patnaik said the State government believes in publicity and make only promises without any concrete plan.

"Influenced by the promises and publicity, People have voted for the BJD. Only time will tell how many promises they fulfil. There is no mention in the budget about revenue resources for the KALIA scheme. How the government will then distribute money among farmers. The ruling party has to keep its words," Patnaik added.

Meanwhile, hundreds of farmers today staged a road blockade near Jharkundamal Chhak on NH-26 in Dharmagarh over alleged delay in paddy procurement. They placed paddy sacks on the national highway disrupting vehicular movement on Bhawanipatna and Jeypore route.

As per the agitating farmers, the district administration is nonchalant despite the fact that rabi paddy sacks are lying unattended at the market yards.