Bhubaneswar: An Agri Enterprise Model Center, the first of its kind in Odisha, which is being facilitated by Odisha University of Agriculture & Technology (OUAT) and funded by Odisha Mineral Bearing Areas Development Corporation (OMBADC), is slated to be made operational at Sundargarh soon.

While reviewing the progress of the ambitious project, OMBADC Oversight Authority (OA) expressed that this initiative shall accelerate the growth of rural agri entrepreneurship in the State.

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OMBADC Oversight Authority and former Supreme Court Judge Justice Ananga Kumar Patnaik on Wednesday, advised the officials to expedite the work while reviewing the status of OMBADC-supported projects being implemented by Agriculture & Farmers' Empowerment Department, Govt of Odisha through OUAT, in a special meeting at Bhubaneswar. He wished to see the first Agri Enterprise Model Center at Sundargarh during his next visit to the State.

It was decided during the meeting that an amount of Rs 67 crore will be utilised by OUAT in FY 2023-24, for building the required infrastructure for the Centres of Excellence at Regional Research & Technology Transfer Stations (RRTTS) and Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVKs) across OMBADC districts in Odisha.

OUAT is working in the areas of technology transfer, developing facilities, training and certification, incubation and handholding for the target beneficiaries as part of the vision of augmenting the ecosystem.

Senior Scientist of OUAT Dr. Sanat Mishra informed that the Capacity Building exercise of farmers and youth in the target areas has been accomplished while the design of infra projects has been completed. Further work shall be initiated through the identified agencies soon.

Moreover, a 1-year certificate course on agri entrepreneurship covering the domains like Agriculture, Horticulture, Veterinary Science and Fisheries is scheduled to be launched by the varsity in August to skill rural youth.

The Oversight Authority (OA) advised the officials of OUAT to organise exposure visits for farmers to West Bengal and Kerala to understand their agro-entrepreneurial models. Further, a convergence meeting will be held with APICOL to absorb the certified youth and an exposure visit will be conducted by OUAT to Tamil Nadu Agriculture University where OUAT officials would study the incubator model to replicate the same in Odisha.

OMBADC was represented at the meeting by the CEO OMBADC G Rajesh. Officials from OUAT who participated in the meeting were the VC OUAT Prof PK Roul, Dr Prasanjit Mishra Dean Extension Education and Dr Sanat Mishra Senior Scientist, OUAT Bhubaneswar.

Among others, GM (Operations) Jayanta Kumar Das, GM (Admin) Sudhakar Burgi, Team Leader PMU Ambuj Prasad and Skill Development expert of OMBADC were present.