Bhubaneswar: Two review meetings were held today at the conference hall of Lok Seva Bhavan under the chairmanship of Deputy Chief Minister, Agriculture, Farmers Empowerment and Energy Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo.
According to an official press release, in the first, the ongoing construction works under the Agriculture and Farmers Empowerment Department were reviewed by Deputy Chief Minister Singhdeo and Principal Secretary Dr. Arabinda Kumar Padhee.
In the second, the procurement of Shri Anna by the government, and CM-KISAN, PM-KISAN was reviewed.
Deputy Chief Minister Singh Deo reviewed the progress of ongoing construction works under the Agriculture Department such as infrastructure development of IMAGE, construction of Krushi Udyog Bhavan, construction of India’s largest millet factory, millet cafe, food court etc. The department has asked to complete the construction work by next September.
CM-KISAN Yojana, a welfare-oriented scheme of the Odisha Government, currently covers 45.60 lakh farmers. They are given installments in two phases every year. This year, another 6.61 lakh new farmers have applied for inclusion.
Similarly, about 35 lakh farmers have been covered under the PM-KISAN Yojana.
All beneficiaries under the CM-KISAN Yojana have been advised to update their e-KYC. This update process is being done through VAW, BAO. Principal Secretary Dr. Padhee has directed to complete this verification process of beneficiaries by March 24. Disciplinary action will be taken against the officers who have violated this and their salaries will be stopped in worst cases, Dr Padhee has instructed. Through e-KYC verification, fake card holders will be identified and the real beneficiaries will be able to take advantage of the scheme.
In our state, the number of PVTG Farmers is 78,869. Deputy Chief Minister Singh Deo has emphasized on their inclusion in welfare schemes like CM-Kisan and PM-Kisan on priority basis. The state government is also trying to make an integrated database of farmers available through the farmer registry.
The production of Shri Anna has increased in the state and the government is procuring these crops through the mandi with the help of FPOs. Currently, the price of Shri Anna per quintal is Rs 4500. And the quantity of Millet government has collected is 5.51 lakh quintals till date. Under the Shri Anna campaign, grain cleaning machines have been provided at the mandis and farmers can sell the grains in the Millet Mandis with the FAQ level and get the appropriate amount. The last date for sale of Shri Anna at the mandi has been fixed as March 31. Till date, 50,620 farmers have sold Shri Anna in the mandi.
In this review meeting, Director of Agriculture Premchandra Chaudhary, senior departmental officers and District Chief Agriculture Officers from all the districts of the state were connected through online.
