Bhubaneswar, Jan 12 (FN Bureau) Mothers have become partners in all areas of development and the time has come for them to go further in the field of agriculture, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said. Inaugurating Krushi Odisha 2024 on Friday under the theme “ Celebrating Women in Agriculture” in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and FICCI, Patnaik said the progress of mothers benefits not only lies with one family but the entire society. Women empowerment is an important program of the state government,he said adding through Mission Shakti, mothers have become partners in all areas of development. “The time has come for them to go further in the field of agriculture,” he said . Many programs like Mission Shakti, Millet Mission, and Coffee Mission are providing opportunities for them in the agriculture sector, the Chief minister said.
He described the contribution of women to the agriculture sector as remarkable and said the women should be encouraged to use the opportunities in the agriculture sector to move forward. State Agriculture and Farmers and Empowerment Minister Ranendra Pratap Swain said Odisha has transformed from starvation to a food surplus state in the last 22 years. In 1999-2000, only Rs 700 crore was allocated for agriculture in the budget but now the state government he said, is preparing a special agriculture budget and has allocated Rs 24,000 crore for it. During this period, the contribution of the budget allocation to the agriculture sector in the total budget has increased from 4 percent to 10 percent. Swain claimed that Odisha’s growth has consistently been higher than the national rate due to higher spending.
The share of women in agriculture is also more, he claimed Principal Secretary, Department of Agriculture Arabinda Padhee said through real empowerment and involvement of our women farmers, we aim to transform the farming sector in Odisha.
Women and Child Development Minister Basanti Hembram said the Women have been able to involve themselves in various sectors, ranging from paddy procurement to fish farming through self-help groups (SHGs). Odisha, She said has been an inspiration to other states in the field of agriculture. Twenty-seven farmers, including 10 women farmers, were awarded and honored on the occasion for their outstanding contribution to the agriculture sector. Around 5,000 farm women, 2,000 Women SHGs, and Agri-entrepreneurs from different corners of the state are participating in the event and successful women farmers and SHGs will also be felicitated.