Odisha stresses on augmenting irrigation facilities

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Nov 17:

Farmers’ income in Odisha has been recorded the highest in the country.

Odisha Chief Secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi

While the average income of a farmer in the state was Rs 1,000 in 2003, it has doubled by 2013, informed Chief Secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi after conclusion of the Agriculture Cabinet meeting here today.

The Agriculture Cabinet decided to undertake measures for development of agriculture in the state emphasizing on augmenting irrigation facilities by construction of mega lift irrigation points.

“First priority will be augmentation of irrigation from its current level, expedite projects already undertaken. We have plans for implementing 17 clusters over the next five or six years. Each cluster will have 10-15 mega lift projects along with repair and renovation of existing and defunct canals. Stress will be also laid on sinking of deep bore wells. This year we had a target to energize 12,000 deep bore wells. By now we have energized 6,000 and by March we will try to complete the remaining,” Padhi informed.

The Agriculture Cabinet decided to increase agricultural productivity by raising water usage efficiency.

“Water usage efficiency in our state is little less as compared with other states. We will emphasize on water use efficiency which will increase productivity with the same amount of water, the Chief Secretary said.

Moreover, a special policy will be formulated for animal husbandry, he added.

The Agriculture Cabinet has approved for establishment of OMFED’s second plant in Bhubaneswar,Padhi said while adding that a drought management cell will be constituted in Odisha State Disaster Management Authority (OSDMA).

 

 

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