BHUBANESWAR:The State Government recently asked the Agriculture Department to give emphasis on crop diversification during preparation of comprehensive District Agriculture Plan for 2015-16.
The Agriculture Directorate has been instructed to make specific interventions for increasing paddy productivity and promote crop diversification so that farmers will get more returns from cash crops.
Chairing the State-level sanction committee monitoring meeting of Rastriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) here, Chief Secretary GC Pati asked the Department to promote line sowing through different measures including system of rice intensification (SRI). He also emphasised on farm mechanisation and timely supply of agri-equipment like transplanter which ensures line sowing.
The Chief Secretary reviewed the progress of projects being implemented under RKVY for which the Centre has so far released `482 crore as against an allocation of `504.13 crore for the current financial year.
The Ministry of Agriculture has released additional Central assistance of `230 crore towards second instalment under RKVY for the State. Of the `252 crore received as first instalment, the Department has already submitted utilisation certificates for 70 per cent of the fund.
Sources in the department said that the state government has fully utilised the central grant of `356 crore in 2011-12, `468 crore in 2012-13 and `529 crore in 2013-14.
The State-level sanction committee has so far approved 444 projects out of which 258 projects have been completed and remaining projects are in different stages of completion.
The Chief Secretary cautioned the executing agencies that Government approval of the projects will be withdrawn if the works are not grounded within the stipulated time of six months.
The progress of the projects under sub-schemes like Bringing Green Revolution on Eastern India (BGREI), vegetable initiatives for urban cluster and National Mission for Protein Supplement were also reviewed in the meeting.
It was decided that the Department will prepare a model comprehensive plan involving agricultural scientists from OUAT and CRRI who will sensitise the district Collectors and field level officials for preparing an outcome oriented plan.