15th Finance panel hails Odisha's farm package as 'best conceived'

The Commission lauded Odisha's consistently high growth trajectory but the state has faced significant volatility which could be due to natural disasters

The visiting 15th Finance Commission chaired by N K Singh extolled Odisha's latest farm package scheme titled KALIA as the best-conceived scheme for the distressed agriculture sector. The commission, though, had an advisory for the state government to focus on crop diversification and enhancing yield, especially of rice.

The panel felt KALIA or Krushak Assistance for Livelihoods & Income Augmentation bettered the typecast farm loan waiver announcements as it catered to all categories of the farm community.

“The KALIA scheme in many ways is the best-conceived scheme. It has won all round commendation. The focus now has to be on