Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, May 10: The Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT) is going to upgrade five of its 10 agro-climatic zone offices in a move that aims to strengthen agriculture and help farmers in the state.
Orissa has been divided into ten agro-climatic zones. These are the northwestern plateau, north-central plateau, northeast coastal, east-southeast coastal, northeast ghat, east ghat high land, southeast ghat, west undulating, west-central table land and mid-central table land. The agro-climatic zone offices were set up as long ago as 1978.
Five of these, which are located in Semiliguda, Kirei, Berhampur, Ranital and Motto, are now in a dilapidated condition. “All the ten agro-climatic zones offices in the state are functioning. However, but there is a need to upgrade these as a lot of the equipment installed there is defunct. We have written to the central government regarding this and funds have been sanctioned to upgrade five of these,” said OUAT vice chancellor Manoranjan Kar.
The agro-climatic zones help farmers and researchers study the agriculture potential of the land. Strengthening of the agro-climatic zones will create scope for more research activity, said Kar. “There are sanctioned posts of scientists and support staff in those offices, but many of them are lying vacant. We are making efforts to fill those posts. The upgraded offices will prove beneficial to our researchers,” said the vice-chancellor.
The climatic zones offices will be strengthened with the funds sanctioned under the Rastriya Krushi Vikash Yojna of the Union government. “The funds will be utilised for infrastructure development, installation of the latest equipment and recruitment of staff. The work will be accomplished soon,” said Kar.