Finance
5T Secretary VK Pandian recently visited Puri and Ganjam on the instructions of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. Local betel leaf and kia flower producers expressed a variety of issues during his visit to these districts, which were relayed to the Chief Minister.
On Sunday, a review meeting was called at the Chief Minister’s office to address the issues. Among those present at the meeting were Pandian, Development Commissioner and Additional Chief Administrative Secretary Anu Garg, Principal Secretary of Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment Department Arvind Padhi, and Secretary of Cooperatives Department Arvind Agarwal.
The committee decided to enroll all affected farmers in the state government’s special fruit-based scheme and offer them with financial aid. Farmers who have at least 2000 square meters of paddy fields will be considered eligible for the assistance. The Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment will make special regulations for this.
Farmers with betel leaf farms would receive Rs 2500 per unit in financial help for management. A farmer can receive support for up to two units. Kishan Credit Card will raise awareness about interest-free loans of up to Rs 1 lakh for betel leaf production.
The group collectively resolved to approach the GST Commissioner for clarification regarding the implementation of GST in the betel leaf industry. Additionally, they plan to initiate an extensive awareness campaign. Under the Chief Minister’s Agriculture Enterprise Scheme, subsidies will be allocated to betel leaf processing units. To facilitate this, a detailed DPR will be meticulously prepared.
Similarly, Ganjam’s kia flower producers will be promoted through the National Horticulture. In addition to the assistance from the Horticulture Mission, financial support will be provided from the state Budget for kia flower cultivation. This support will be provided through scientific mapping of the areas where kia flower cultivation is done.
These farmers would receive financial help based on the Ganjam District Collector’s report for kia flower harvests damaged in natural disasters. The Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment Department and the Ganjam District Collector will work together to develop the mode of operation.
To include kia flower processing units in the Chief Minister’s Agriculture Scheme, necessary amendments will be made to the scheme’s rules.
It has been decided to seek technical assistance from Odisha Agricultural and Technical University or any Indian agricultural research institute in order to increase kia flower production in the Ganjam district.
