Bhubaneswar: In a bid to boost agriculture in tribal regions, the state government has decided to establish agriculture production clusters (APCs) in 40 blocks of 12 tribal-dominated districts over a period of four years.
Addressing a state-level workshop on strengthening market ecosystem for farm prosperity – “Promotion of Agriculture Production Clusters in tribal regions of Odisha”, Agriculture Minister Arun Sahoo said APCs will be formed in 40 tribal-dominated blocks with an investment of Rs 401.60 crore in four years.
The project will trigger growth in farm sector with an objective of doubling the income of one lakh small and marginal farmers, he said.
Around 750 market linked agri-entrepreneurs will be groomed and nested as value chain enablers, he added.
The Agriculture department is implementing the project in collaboration with Panchayati Raj & Drinking Water department for promotion of agriculture production clusters in tribal regions in partnership with Bharat Rural Livelihoods Foundation (BRLF) and Professional Assistance for Development Action (PRADAN, a national level NGO).
The line departments will be converged for creation of livelihood infrastructure required for farmers in the proposed regions.
As a sustainable measure non-pesticidal management (NPM) practices will be introduced in 40 per cent of the areas. To augment the livelihoods of the farmers, livestock rearing (goat, sheep and backyard poultry rearing) are being planned for 40,000 families in these clusters, sources said.
Livelihood assets like irrigation in 16,000 acres, orchard development in 8,000 acres, farm mechanisation access to 70,000 farmers and shed for goat and backyard poultry with 30,000 farmers are being converged from existing schemes, they said.
