Orissa Government to declare new agriculture policy soon

Berhampur (Orissa): Apr 7 : The Orissa Government will soon declare a new agriculture policy to make farming a profitable activity, official sources said here on Monday.

"The draft for the new policy has already been prepared. It will be placed before the state cabinet for approval," said Arabinda Padhi, Director of Agriculture and Food Production.

The aim of the proposed policy is to increase the income of the farmers, besides to achieve the growth rate in agriculture sector at four per cent in the state by 2011-12 with increasing the foodgrain production like paddy, wheat, maize, ragi, millets, cereals and pulses.

The growth rate in agriculture sector in Orissa now stood at 2.6 per cent of the Gross State Domestic Products (GSDP).

District Collectors have been asked to prepare prospective agriculture plan in the district level to achieve the growth rate at four per cent by the end of the five-year plan.

Apart from these, the new policy would lay thrust on sustainability and protection of environment.

ANI