Odisha announces additional package for cyclone hit farmers

With above 17.38 lakh agrarians hit by Cyclone Phailin and resultant two spells of floods, Odisha government today announced an additional package worth Rs 100 crore to help out farmers mostly engaged in horticulture activities.
"The additional package will boost productivity of groundnut, sugarcane, coconuts, banana and other vegetables," Agriculture minister Debi Prasad Mishra told reporters while unveiling the package.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had earlier announced a package for the assistance of the farmers and now after his approval, the department made this announcement, Mishra said.
Giving details of the additional package, the minister said, "for increasing groundnut productivity, demonstrations in 40,000 hectares of farmland will be conducted, special demonstrations on sustainable sugarcane revival will be held besides, seed treatment campaign and distributing fruit saplings for 2 lakh families."

The minister said four seedlings of coconut will be provided to each family free of coast covering one lakh farmers.
Official sources said about 15.1 lakh coconut trees have been damaged in the cyclone according to Coconut Development Board estimation. "The loss incurred due to coconut tree damage in Phalli is estimated at Rs 316 crone," the official said.
The minister said gypsum will be supplied as soil amendment for oilseed crops covering over 50,650 hecatre at a subsidised rate of Rs 20 per bag of 50 kilogram.