Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi who holds the Finance portfolio has allocated Rs 33,919 crore for Agriculture and allied activities for 2024-25 which is 36 per cent more than the allocation of Rs 24,829 crore in the previous financial year of 2023-24.
While Rs 5,000 crore has been earmarked for the Samrudha Krushaka Yojana, Rs 1,935 crore has been allocated for a new scheme ‘CM Kisan’ under which additional amount or top-ups will be provided to the farmers across the state to further boost their financial status.
CM Majhi has also announced the launching of another scheme, ‘Odisha Balabhadra Jaivik Chasa’ yojana under which organic farming will be promoted in Kandhamal and Swabhiman Anchal of Malkangiri district.
Majhi informed that his government is committed to setting up cold storage in the state. In this connection for implementing a comprehensive plan a committee comprising of MSME, Cooperation, Energy and Agriculture & Farmers’ Empowerment departments will be constituted. Initially, it has been planned to establish cold storage at the sub-divisional level and in the coming years it will be implemented at the block level, he added.
Majhi said that Krushi Samruddhi Kendras will be set up at the block level to provide a one-stop solution for farmers. A Krushi Samruddhi helpline will be started for farmers to provide necessary assistance on various agriculture-related programmes, financial assistance, and all crop production-related information.
To increase production and use of millets and make Odisha India’s millet hub Majhi has proposed for Sree Anna Abhiyan with a budgetary allocation of Rs 649 crore. This will encourage millet cultivators in tribal areas.
Majhi has allocated a total of Rs 14,111 crore for various programmes related to the irrigation sector.
