Bhubanswar: The state got award for three initiatives in agriculture sector for the prestigious SKOCH Governance Award 2019. Out of which ‘Special Programme on Agriculture Production Cluster in Tribal Regions of Odisha’ bagged the prestigious SKOCH Governance Gold Award 2019. The other two ‘Mukhymantri Abhinav Krushi Jantrapati Samman’ and ‘Odisha Millets Mission’ received SKOCH Order of Merit awards.
Out of 1000 project applicants, 600 projects were called for presentation. The Mukhyamantri Abhinav Krushi Jantrapati Samman, Odisha Millets Mission & Agriculture Production Cluster got selected. Both Mukhyamantri Abhinav Krushi Jantrapati Samman, Odisha Millets Mission got SKOCH ORDER OF MERIT. In the final jury evaluation Agriculture Production Cluster Project was adjudged for SKOCH Governance award 2019 in Gold category.
The Agriculture Production Cluster project is a joint collaboration of Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment, Govt. of Odisha, Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water Department, Govt. of Odisha, Bharat Rural Livelihoods Foundation (BRLF), and PRADAN (Professional Assistance for Development Action) and 17 partner NGOs. The existing schemes with Directorate of Horticulture, Directorate of Agriculture, Animal resource department, OLM, OLIC, OAIC, APICOL and other relevant Departments are being converged for creation of livelihood infrastructures of farmers in this region.
Honourable Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik launched this project on 6th November 2018 which aims to trigger growth in farm sector with an objective of sustainably doubling the income of one-lakh small and marginal women farmers by establishing Agriculture Production Clusters (APCs) in 40 backward blocks of 12 tribal dominated districts in the State over a period of 4 years.
MUKHYAMANTRI ABHINAV KRUSHI JANTRAPATI SAMMAN: A novel initiative by Department of Agriculture & Farmers’ Empowerment, Govt. of Odisha & National Innovation Foundation-India (NIF) with an objective to identify and encourage grassroots innovation in Agriculture, bring in innovative ideas of farmers, artisans and
agricultural workers and add value to traditional Knowledge base of the farmers of the State was launched on 17.05.18 by Hon’ble Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.
More than 2000 applications received from all districts of Odisha. Preliminary screenings of all scouted entries were completed by NIF. Maximum number of innovations had come from Machinery for land preparation, Post-harvest management, Water lifting Devices and Planting Machinery. More than 100 innovators were
selected in the State and out of them 11 farmers were awarded at state level.
Special Programme for Promotion of Millets in Tribal Areas of Odisha (Odisha Millets Mission) was launched by Govt of Odisha in 2017-18 in 30 blocks of 7 districts. It was extended to 72 blocks in 2018-19 covering 14
districts. Programme in 65 blocks of 13 districts is funded under State Plan. 7 blocks of Keonjhar district are funded through District Mineral Fund. Govt. of India advised all states to adopt OMM model. GoI set up a task force (Under JS Crops, DAC, MoA) to revise NFSM Nutri Cereals guidelines as per OMM. Niti Aayog to promote OMM model on inclusion of millets in ICDS, MDM and PDS. Integration with Different government programs to increase millet consumption, Market linkage with bigger agency for sustainability of Millet Cultivation are some of the key areas focused by OMM. Planning Commission of Chhattisgarh recommended to Chhattisgarh Govt to start a state millet mission on lines of OMM.
SKOCH Governance award is the highest civilian honour in the country conferred by an independent organisation. It recognizes people, projects and institutions that go the extra mile to make India a better nation. APC project bagged the award for its innovative idea on convergence with relevant departments, multi
stakeholder partnerships, building market ecosystem for bringing prosperity of small and marginal women farmers in tribal regions of the state. Odisha Millets Mission was the recipient of Silver prize under SKOCH TRANSFORMATION INNOVATION AWARD in 2017-18. Mukhyamantri Abhinav Krushi Jantrapati Samman is one
of a kind recognition to the farmers and their innovative ideas in farm mechanisation.
These recognitions will motivate all the stakeholders of the project to work harder for farmer’s empowerment
in the state.
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