Bhubaneswar, August 4: The Mukhyamantri Krushi Udyog Yojana (MKUY) has brought a sea change in promoting Agri-entrepreneurs in Odisha.
The MKUY, as one of the flagship programmes of the Odisha government since its inception on the 1st of June 2018, has been a catalyst in promoting agri-entrepreneurs in the agriculture and allied sector throughout the state, said Minister of Agriculture And Farmers’ Empowerment, Fisheries & Animal Resources Development, Ranendra Pratap Swain on Friday.
Attending the Sectoral Event on Fisheries – 2023, organised by Agricultural Promotion and Investment Corporation of Odisha Ltd (APICOL) here at the Krushi Bhavan in Bhubaneswar today, Swain highlighted the importance of creating an ecosystem in Odisha where youths can become job providers. The youth community should be provided with abundant opportunities and moral support to make their lives easier by implementing the principle of ease of doing business. He advised the APICOL, to work in tandem with line departments to cover all sectors.
Encouraging integrated farming with fisheries will not only benefit the entrepreneurs but also contribute to the overall growth of agriculture and allied sectors, Swain added.
The Minister urged to conduct awareness and outreach campaigns in coastal areas and other districts to educate potential entrepreneurs about the opportunities and benefits available under MKUY. He also said that entrepreneurs should be encouraged to explore diverse product options beyond fresh fish. Promote the processing of fish into value-added products. Introduce a support mechanism under MKUY to encourage entrepreneurs to establish small-scale fish factories in different districts.
Principal Secretary, the Department of Fisheries & Animal Resources Development, Suresh Kumar Vashishth said, Odisha has emerged as one among the four largest fish-producing states in the country. The budget allocated to the fisheries sector has increased 28-fold.
In view of better coordination between Odisha and other leading fish-producing states in the country, the Odisha government has approved a new scheme in the budget for 2023-24. This scheme aims to provide input subsidies to old fish farmers and Women Self-Help Groups (WSHGs), which is expected to further boost the sector, Vashishth added.
