Bhubaneswar: In a major initiative to strengthen agricultural education and research, the Odisha government has announced a monthly stipend for postgraduate (PG) and Ph.D. students of Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT).
According to an official statement issued by the Department of Agriculture, the decision was taken to provide financial assistance to students pursuing higher studies in agriculture and allied disciplines, with the initiative being facilitated through the efforts of Deputy Chief Minister and Minister of Agriculture & Farmers’ Empowerment and Energy, Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo.
Under the scheme, regular PG students enrolled in agriculture and allied courses at OUAT will receive a stipend of Rs 10,000 per month for a period of two years. Ph.D. scholars will be provided Rs 15,000 per month for up to three years.
The financial assistance aims to encourage quality research, promote innovation in the agriculture sector and motivate meritorious students to pursue advanced studies without financial constraints.
“Investing in our young researchers means securing the future of Odisha’s farmers. With this assistance, our students can focus on new innovations and research without financial worries,” Singh Deo said.
The scheme will be applicable to all regular postgraduate and doctoral students pursuing agriculture and allied subjects at OUAT.
The state government said the initiative is expected to strengthen research capacity at the university while encouraging greater participation in advanced agricultural research, ultimately contributing to the development of Odisha’s agriculture sector.
