Odisha Budget: Whopping Rs 19408 Cr. Allocation for Agril Sector

Bhubaneswar: In an attempt to build New Odisha, Empowered Odisha with focus to make agriculture more vibrant and lucrative, Rs 19,408 crore has been allocated for 2020-21 fiscal for the agriculture sector.

While, the agriculture budget was Rs.7000 crore in 2013-14, it is Rs.19408 crore in 2020-21, an increase of about 3 times and 180%.

The Government has allocated Rs 3195 crore for KALIA Yojana, the biggest ever individual beneficiary scheme in the history of Odisha.

With this, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has reiterated his commitment not to leave out even single eligible farmer from the scheme in letter and spirit.

Till date Rs 5115 crore has been transferred in KALIA to 43 lakh farmers.

Rs 150 crore has been allocated to OUAT, for research and infrastructure development for making it a Center of Excellence with global benchmarks in quality.

Giving priority to increase irrigation network, Finance Minister Niranjan Pujari said, “In-stream barrages to be built with Rs 12000 crore in 5 years. Rs.1100 crore has been allocated for FY 20-21.

In his budget speech, the Finance Minister said, “All irrigation projects pending for some time would be taken up for expeditious completion this year with an allocation of Rs.1181 Crore.”

While Mega-lift irrigation projects allocated Rs.540 crore, rooftop rain water harvesting projects get Rs. 35 crores.

Keeping its commitment for Zero Percent Interest for loans to farmers, massive Rs. 43282 crore for agricultural credit will be provided in 2020-21.