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The Union government has agreed to the demand of the Odisha government for increasing allocation of fertiliser to the state for the ensuing kharif season. Union agriculture minister, Radha Mohan Singh today said he has assured Chief Minister, Naveen Patnaik in this regard.
"Singh directed department of fertiliser to allocate 1.75 million tonne fertilisers to the state as per state's requirement. He also directed officials of his ministry to ensure timely delivery of fertilisers to the state", according to a press statement issued by the ministry.
Earlier in February this year, Patnaik had written to the Centre to increase fertiliser allocation to 1.75 million tonne from 1 million tonne in the previous year.
Odisha faces a huge challenge every year in the distribution of fertilisers to different districts on account of inadequate rake points in the state. Patnaik urged upon the Union minister to ask Ministry of Railways to provide rake points at major agricultural districts, especially in western and south-west part of the state.
Among other issues, the chief minister brought to the notice of the Centre that Odisha has not been allocated any funds till date for sugarcane development under the National Food Security Mission despite being identified by the Union government as one of the 12 states for sugarcane based cropping systems. He stated that lack of financial support is impacting the supplies of sugarcane to six sugar mills in the state.
After his meeting, Singh announced inclusion of Odisha under National Food Security Mission (NFSM) to promote cultivation of sugarcane in the states.
Under National Horticulture Mission (NHM), Patnaik requested the Centre to allocate funds for establishment of cold storages to address problems of potato supplies. He also sought additional financial assistance from Directorate of Cashew and Cocoa Development to Odisha to cover at least 7000 hectares during 2015-16, since over half of the existing cashew plantations have become old and senile and need urgent replacement to maintain the levels of productivity.
Odisha occupies third place in the country both in terms of area and production of raw cashew nuts.
In view of good scope of horticulture produce in the state, Singh assured assistance for setting up of cold storage in six districts of Odisha.
Very soon a high level team of officials from agriculture ministry will visit Odisha to discuss issues related to the development of the agriculture in the state, according to the press release issued by the Union government.
