The Odisha government on Friday said it planned to increase area under horticulture crops by 50 per cent in next five years.
Inaugurating workshop on ‘Potentials and Opportunities of Horticulture in Odisha’ organized by Directorate of Horticulture, Chief Minster Naveen Patnaik said: “Horticultural crops are very much remunerative, and provide livelihood support along with nutritional security. The area under horticulture crops is planned to be increased by 50 per cent in next five years.”
“Both area expansion and productivity improvement have to go together to achieve the goal of bringing more returns to the farmers of Odisha,” said Mr. Patnaik.
Stating that steps were being taken to increase potato production and improve storage facilities in the State, Chief Minister said: “Cold storages and other post harvest management infrastructures are being promoted in the State with additional assistance from the State budget. Sustainable development of horticultural sector will be promoted so as to attain self-sufficiency in horticulture production for domestic consumption as well as export.”
Referring to farmer suicide spree in the State, Mr. Patnaik said: “Keeping in view, the present distress conditions, I have recently announced the waiver of water cess for this year in drought affected districts. Recovery of all crop loans extended by cooperative societies in the affected blocks is deferred with immediate effect.”
“Re-phasing of the recovery schedule of such crop loans will be made. The commercial banks have been requested to take similar steps in respect of crop loans of farmers of the affected area,” he said adding the government start disbursement of payment of agriculture input subsidy by November 10.
Source : The Hindu
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