Bhubaneswar: In preparation for the Kharif crop season, the Odisha government has developed a comprehensive strategy to support farmers. The state is expected to witness normal rainfall this year, according to the India Meteorological Department, which will benefit farmers.
The Agriculture and Farmer Empowerment Department aims to cover approximately 58.5 lakh hectares of land under various crops, including paddy, pulses, oilseeds, maize, and cotton. To ensure a successful harvest, the government has made arrangements for the supply of 4 lakh quintals of high-quality certified seeds, provision of 9.55 lakh metric tons of fertilizers, irrigation coverage for 37.66 lakh hectares, crop protection and pesticide management, and agricultural mechanization and field demonstrations.
The government has also initiated several schemes, such as the Odisha Balabhadra Organic Farming for 3450 hectares of organic production, the Amrit Anna Project for “Koth Bhog” and “Maha Prasad” for Shri Jagannath Temple, and the establishment of 58 cold storages for crop preservation. Financial assistance and subsidies are being provided to entrepreneurs.
In the financial year 2024-25, the government has provided a subsidy of Rs. 160 crore to 1152 agricultural enterprises. Farmers are being encouraged to take advantage of digital services like Input Support Amount, Agri Stack, Farmer Registry, and Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana. Under the Samruddh Kisan Yojana, farmers will receive Rs. 3100 per quintal for soil health management. A corpus fund of Rs. 100 crore has been set aside to support farmers.
With these initiatives, the state government aims to boost agricultural productivity and support farmers in the Kharif crop season.
