KALIA: Odisha provides Rs 920 crore assistance to 42 lakh farmer families

Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today launched the transfer of Rs 920 crore to the bank accounts of 42 lakh farmer families in the state under the Krushak Assistance for Livelihood and Income Augmentation (KALIA) scheme.

The financial assistance has been provided to the beneficiaries for Kharif-2021.

The CM said though the state is currently facing the second wave of COVID-19 and undergoing lockdown, there are no restrictions for agricultural activities. The farmers can carry out agricultural activities with adherence to COVID-19 guidelines, said Patnaik.

Under the KALIA scheme, financial assistance of Rs 25,000 per farm family over five seasons will be provided to small and marginal farmers so that farmers can purchase inputs like seeds, fertilizers, pesticides and use assistance towards labour and other investments.

This apart, financial assistance of Rs 12,500 will be provided to each landless agricultural household for agriculture allied activities like for small goat rearing unit, mini-layer unit, duckery units, fishery kits for fisherman, mushroom cultivation and bee-keeping, etc.

Vulnerable cultivators/landless agricultural labourers will get financial assistance of Rs 10,000 per family per year to enable them to take care of their sustenance.