BALASORE: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Tuesday unveiled the Nabard-sponsored pilot project - ‘Augmenting farm productivity’ - at Baharda under Basta block on the occasion of Akshaya Tritiya, also celebrated as State Farmers’ Day. The Rs 3,211.86-crore project, being implemented for the first time in the country, aims at achieving increased agriculture productivity and consequent income enhancement for at least two lakh farmers in the coastal district. Appreciating the Nabard for choosing Balasore for the pilot project, Naveen said the project would help farmers in the region get the latest farm mechanism, quality seeds, fertilisers, appropriate cropping strategies, storage facilities and marketing linkages. Highlighting the various schemes implemented for the farmers in the State, Naveen said measures were being taken to make agriculture profitable by laying greater emphasis on horticulture crops. Naveen stressed cash crops like sunflower and mustard and urged the farmers to take up poultry for their economic growth.On the occasion, Union Minister Srikanta Jena said, “The project would be replicated in other districts if it turns out to be successful here.” The project will be implemented with the help of Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT), State Agriculture Department, Nabard and NGOs. Nabard Chairman Prakash Bakshi said Balasore was chosen as the yield here is less than in other districts of eastern India despite use of heavy dose of fertilisers.Among others Steel Minister Raghunath Mohanty and legislators Ananta Das, Jiban Pradip Dash, Sudarshan Jena, Surendra Pramanik, Debi Prasanna Chand and Zilla Parishad president Umilata Das were present.
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