OUAT asked to improve facilities in polytechnics

The State Government on Saturday asked the Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT) and the Agriculture department to improve the infrastructure facilities in the agro-polytechnic centres and provide basic amenities in the hostels.

Ten Agro-Polytechnic Centres have been set up in 10 agro-climatic zones of the state with budgetary assistance from the State.

The basic purpose of setting up these institutions is to empower youths with knowledge and technical know-how for self employment in agriculture and allied sectors.

The other objective is to create technical expertise for increasing farm productivity per unit.

OUAT is the nodal agency for these centres which are mostly located at Krushi Vigyan Kendras (KVK) functioning under the university.

The centres are located at Semiliguda in Koraput district, Keonjhar, Deogarh, Chiplima in Sambalpur district, College of Fisheries, Rangeilunda in Ganjam district, Balangir, Boudh, Ranital in Bhadrakh district, Panpose in Sundargarh district and Mahisapat in Dhenkanal district.

The centres at Semiliguda and Keonjar are offering courses in horticulture while the centre at Chiplima is imparting training on animal science.

Other centres are imparting training in agriculture. The trainees have already completed first semester.

The functioning of the agro-polytechnic centres was reviewed at a high level meeting presided by Chief Secretary JK Mohapatra here.

Mohapatra asked the University authorities to prepare specific proposal for construction of new hostel buildings for trainees in these centres.

He advised OUAT for quality monitoring of the training programmes with field exposure and hands on practice so that the trainees can be self reliant and can take up their ventures.

Principal Secretary, Agriculture, Rajesh Verma, Vice-Chancellor of OUAT Manoranjan Kar, nodal officer, polytechnics and Dean OUAT Sankarsana Nanda participated in the discussion.

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