Pawar's remark on Orissa affairs unfortunate - Minister

Bhubaneswar, Feb 23 (UNI) Orissa Agriculture Minister Surendranath Naik today described as unfortunate Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar's remark on the state.

The Union Minister during his recent visit to the state had criticised the inaction of the state Government on the implementation of various plans and programmes of the Agriculture department.

Mr Naik said despite financial constraints, the state had managed to register about three per cent growth in agriculture sector against the national average growth rate of less than two per cent.

He said many proposals, given by the state government, were either pending or rejected by the Centre.

Mr Naik said the proposal to increase the Central assistance from 50 to 90 per cent for revival of coconut orchids, ravaged during the super cyclone, was turned down by the Union Government.

The suggestion to involve the state Agriculture Minister in the national Horticulture mission and national food security mission were still pending, he added.

The Minister said the Central Government was yet to concede to the repeated request of the state Government to create facilities for agricultural research and facilities through ICAR.

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