Odisha Launches Pilot Project To Boost Farmers' Income

Bhubaneswar: While farmers in Odisha are up in arms demanding price, prestige and pension, the State government launched a pilot project to boost farmers' income. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today launched a pilot project whose main aim is to implement recommendations of several central research agencies.

The project was launched at Lok Seva Bhavan in Bhubaneswar in a video conference and an investment of Rs 5.20 crore has been approved by the State government for the year 2019-20. In the first phase, a sample size of 1000 farmers has been chosen and the project will use expert knowledge to ensure development in various parameters like education, health and finance. The pilot project has been launched in Nabarangpur district initially.

As per reports, the project will lay emphasis on eradicating malnutrition, while focussing on education and socioeconomic development as well.

Speaking at the launch, Agriculture Minister, Arun Sahoo said, "For improvement of agriculture and increasing farmer's income, 12 Central agencies under CSIR, ICAR, ICMR, among others have collaborated with departments of the Odisha government for the project."

Agriculture Department secretary, Sourav Garg said "The technology which has been developed in the laboratory will reach farmers following which their income will increase. We hope that youths of Nabarangpur will show interest in this process."