The State-level committee on Rashtriya Krishi Vikash Yojana (RKVY) sanctioned nine new projects under the second green revolution programme on Wednesday.
The Ministry of Agriculture has sanctioned Rs 217 crore to the State under the Centrally-sponsored Bringing Green Revolution to Eastern India (BGREI) to bridge the yield gap in the production of paddy with the national average.
In addition, the committee also approved projects worth Rs 110 crore to be implemented in the next three years. Soil testing centres will be opened in all districts involving primary agricultural cooperative societies (PACS).
The meeting presided by Chief Secretary BK Patnaik and attended by senior officers from the Ministry of Agriculture, Planning Commission and National Institute of Rural Development (NIRD) also decided that agri-entrepreneur centres will be developed in rural areas through co-operative banks and primary cooperative societies.
In the first phase, farm mechanisation schemes have been approved for districts of Kendrapara, Kandhamal, Mayurbhanj and Jajpur. It was decided that the programme will be launched in these districts with active cooperation of the Krishi Vikash Kendras (KVKs) under the guidance of the Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT).
Besides sanctioning Rs 217 crore under BGREI, the Centre has provided financial assistance of Rs 226 crore under RKVY for the current financial year.
In addition, Rs 12 crore has been allocated for vegetable initiative in urban cluster, Rs 18 crore for allied activities like dairy, fishery and goatery schemes and Rs 2 crore for nutri cereals.