The Business Bytes
TBB BUREAU
ANGUL, MARCH 6, 2023
Industrialist Naveen Jindal-led Jindal Steel & Power (JSP)’s CSR wing JSP Foundation and Odisha Government’s Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment Department have joined hands for establishment of two Agro Service Centres at Angul for Farmers’ Producers Organisations (FPOs). These centres will work in Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode under the Mukhyamantri Krushi Udyog Yojana (MKUY) for the first time in Odisha.
The agro service centre will be supported with the farm machineries like Tractor, Power tiller, Power reaper, Axial flow thresher, Rotavator, Cultivator, Power Weeder, Power sprayer, Brush Cutter with a permanent shed to keep all these equipment safely.
The machinery will be used on custom hiring basis by the farmers, paying a nominal amount to be charged by the FPO. The FPO will use this amount for maintenance and replacement.
JSP Foundation will support Rs.30 lakh for establishment of these two Agro Service Centers and the State Government will provide subsidy of around Rs 18 lakh for the same project.
At an event organised on Saturday at Angul Collectorate, ADM (General) – Angul Rajanikant Swain handed over the go-ahead letters to the beneficiaries and Board members of the two FPOs. — Kalapata Farmers Producers Company Ltd. at Tubey village and Pitabali Farmers Producers Company Ltd. at Derjang village. These FPOs are established under the FPO project of NABARD in the area of Watershed Development Project which were jointly developed through convergence of NABARD and JSP in PPP mode earlier.
The program aims to support the farmers through farm mechanization for sustainable increase in production, productivity and access to cash income for farmers’ families.
On this occasion the Angul Chief District Agriculture Officer Pramil Kumar Swain presided over the meeting in the presence of all board members, CEO and Implementing partners of the two FPOs, Heads & officials of District level, Govt. line departments and JSP and JSP Foundation officials.
Farmer members of both the FPOs shared their views and expressed their gratitude, and promised to run the center by ensuring sustainability.
JSP GM-CSR Puspalata Satapathy thanked the Angul District Administration and all concerned in materialising this project.
At the end of the program, APICOL District Manager Pramod Kumar Das gave the vote of thanks.
