Want to See Farmers to Live with Dignity: Odisha CM

Bhubaneswar: In an attempt to give a major push to the rich agri-ecosystem in Odisha, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik inaugurated the ‘Krushi Odisha 2020’, farmers’ convention at Janta Maidan here today in city.

While addressing the inaugural ceremony, the Chief Minister said, “My government has taken a number of steps for the development of farmers in the State. Farmers of the State should live with dignity. They should take the advantage of new technology in agriculture.”

He said, “Farmers are the backbone of the country and economy. The development of the country depends on the development of the farmers”.

A five-day affair with having the privilege of participation of a total of 112 farms including domestic and international, the ‘Krushi Odisha 2020’ convention will conclude on January 24.

A total of 228 stalls have been set up at the event where workshops and seminars on new technologies and innovations in farming sector organised.

While, January 21 will be observed as Cooperative and Banking Day, January 22 as Panchayati Raj People’s Representative Day and January 23 as Women’s Day.

The event will also provide a platform for networking to business community, government representatives, Farmer Producer Organisations (FPO’s), progressive farmers, Agri entrepreneurs and other stakeholders.

During the recent years, Odisha has witnessed transient success in terms of crop production and productivity leading the State to bag national “Krishi Karman Award” six times between 2010 and 2019.

The State Government has recently released its new the Agriculture Policy-2020 that aims to ensure agricultural growth, increasing farmers’ income with the help of an eight-point strategy called as ‘SAMRIDHI’.

The SAMRIDHI strategy focuses on leveraging science and technology, adaptation to climate change, market linkage, higher productivity, creating infrastructure, diversification of production, skilling of human resources and strengthening institutions.