Having a poor track record of utilisation of Central assistance, the State Government on Saturday claimed to have spent 99 per cent of the funds allocated by the Centre under Rashtriya Krushi Vikas Yojana (RKVY).
The RKVY programme launched towards the fag end of 2007-08 financial year, the State received a total assistance of ` 904.89 crore from the Ministry of Agriculture during the 11th Plan. A review of the programme revealed that the State Government has utilised ` 897 crore by the end of 2011-12, including an expenditure of ` 1.44 crore on preparation of State Agriculture Plan (SAP) and comprehensive district agriculture plan (CDAP).
The Centre released ` 364.55 crore to the State in the current financial year out of which around ` 300 crore have been utilized so far, the meeting was told.
Reviewing the performance of the programme here on Saturday, Chief Secretary BK Patnaik advised the Agriculture Department to create sufficient storage facility for stocking fertilizers in advance. Since the demand is increasing every year, it becomes difficult to procure and supply fertilisers to farmers during the peak kharif and rabi seasons. The regulated market committee (RMC) should be involved for creation of additional storage capacity. The meeting decided to set up specific monitoring mechanism to ensure implementation of different projects in time. All the implementing agencies have been asked to strengthen their monitoring system.
RKVY activities like bringing Green Revolution to Eastern India, initiatives for nutritional security through intensive millets promotion (INSIMP), special programme for oil palm area expansion (OPAE), vegetable initiatives for urban clusters, national mission for protein supplements, dairy development, fisheries and goatery farming were implemented in the State during the current financial year.
The maize production of the State has touched the record level at 6.4 lakh tonnes due to popularisation of hybrid seeds, official sources said. The Chief Secretary asked concerned departments to ensure that the farmers are paid minimum support price for their produce.
Development Commissioner Jugal Kishore Mohapatra, Union Joint Secretary Utpal Kumar Singh, Agriculture, Fisheries and Animal Resources, Water Resources and SC & ST Development Secretaries Ranglal Jamuda, Satyabrata Sahu, SC Mohapatra and Santosh Sarangi respectively and other senior officers participated in the discussion.