On the occasion of the Nuakhai festival, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik distributed Rs 742.58 crore in cash support to farmers under the Krushak Assistance for Livelihood and Income Augmentation (KALIA) scheme.
According to sources, Patnaik distributed Rs 3,000 to each of 37,12,914 small farmers' bank accounts to help them carry out agricultural operations for the Rabi crop harvesting.
Before disbursing the funds, the Chief Minister through video conferencing greeted farmers on this auspicious day, stating that ‘Nuakhai' is the festival of worshipping soil, and they are the greatest devotees.
Patnaik said he had been in touch with the Centre to fix the fertilizer scarcity, noting that the concerns impacting farmers must not be overlooked. He went on to say that the state administration has been bringing MSP and crop insurance to the notice of the national govt.
The Chief Minister expects agricultural operations to increase since rain has been falling in appropriate amounts in recent days, noting that there was a rain shortage in several areas in August.
The centre has been monitoring the issue and communicating with Agriculture Department Field Officers. Farmers should operate under the direction of the department, he suggested. The state government has given nearly Rs 3,200 crore to farmers under the KALIA scheme since the outbreak.
Some farmers commended the State government and the KALIA initiative for assisting them financially, allowing them to stop relying on moneylenders. KALIA scheme was commended by Lasima Biswal of Bargarh, Makardhwaj Mendali of Sambalpur, Rajkumar Pradhan, and Paramananda Majhi of Balangir district.
Among those in attendance were Agriculture And Farmers’ Empowerment Minister Arun Sahoo, 5T Secretary VK Pandian, Agriculture Secretary VK Vasisth and senior officials.
About KALIA Scheme
Financing agriculture and insuring farmers is critical for eradicating poverty and boosting the state's shared wealth. The State Government intends to lend farmers an all-inclusive and adaptable support system through the implementation of the Krushak Assistance for Livelihood and Income Augmentation - KALIA Scheme, assuring faster agricultural success.
