Bhubaneswar, June 17 (UNI) Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Tuesday said that the state government is committed to providing all forms of technological support to empower farmers across the state.
Addressing the state-level Kisan Shakti Samavesh in Balangir to mark one year of the state government, the Chief Minister emphasized that agriculture and farmers’ welfare will play a pivotal role in building a developed Odisha.
Majhi reiterated the government’s commitment to offering both mechanical and technological assistance to strengthen the farming community. “One of our major election promises was to ensure fair value for the hard work of lakhs of our farmer brothers and sisters — a promise we have fulfilled,” he said. He noted that over 60 percent of the state’s population depends on agriculture and allied sectors for their livelihood.
Highlighting the government’s achievements, the Chief Minister said that as of May, 78,681 units of agricultural machinery have been distributed, with subsidies amounting to Rs.459.68 crore provided directly to farmers through DBT (Direct Benefit Transfer).
Majhi called on citizens to support the growth of agriculture and help establish it as the backbone of the country’s economy. “We are working with full commitment to expand irrigation facilities across farmlands. Our target is to bring irrigation to 15 lakh hectares of currently unirrigated land within five years,” he added.
The Chief Minister described the Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan, launched on May 29 from Sakhigopal in Puri, as a significant milestone in agricultural development, aligning with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision for the sector.
Detailing ongoing agricultural initiatives, Majhi said the Shri Anna Abhiyan is improving the livelihoods of small and marginal farmers through the revival of traditional crops and promotion of nutrition-based farming practices.
Under the CM Kisan Yojana, financial assistance of Rs.4,000 is being provided to farmers, including those in urban areas.
On the occasion of Akshaya Tritiya, over 50 lakh small and marginal farmers — including 2,381 Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) farmers and 25,532 urban farmers — received financial support amounting to Rs.1,025 crore.
The Chief Minister added that the CM Kisan Yojana is being integrated with the PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme to provide enhanced financial support to farmers.
“In a first-of-its-kind initiative to fully empower farmers’ families, we have also introduced the Krishi Vidyanidhi Yojana, which provides scholarships to support higher education for farmers’ children,” he said.
Speaking at the event, Deputy Chief Minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo said the government has allocated increased financial resources in this year’s state budget for the development of agriculture and farmers. He added that more provisions are being planned in the upcoming budget to further strengthen the agricultural sector and improve the welfare of farmers.
