Sudarsan Maharana
Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, May 13: The curtailment of funds or discontinuance of aid to many farm sector projects by the Centre is likely to hit the state drastically.
The state government has taken up several ambitious programmes in the agriculture sector with Central aid such as Rashtriya Krishi Viaksh Yojana (RKVY), Rainfed Area Development Programme (RADP), National Food Security Mission (NFSM), National Horticulture Mission (NHM) and Sub-mission for seed and planting material (SMSP).
Sources said the Centre which was providing 100 per cent funding under RKVY had paid `468crore in 2012-13 and `529crore during 2013-14, but reduced the aid to `482crore in 2014-15.
Under the 50:50 centre-state funding scheme, the state is likely to receive `200crore under this programme in 2015-16 fiscal and the remaining fund has to be generated from the state’s resources.
Likewise, the state which had received `84crore and `71crore in 2013-14 and 2014-15 respectively for implementation of NHM is likely to receive `57crore in 2015-16.
Under BGREI programme, the state had received `199crore in 2013-14 and `184crore in 2014-15 but the new dispensation at the centre is likely to allocate only `56crore this year. Reduced fund flow is likely to hit many flagship programmers undertaken for the development of farmers, financial department sources said.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik who met Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh Monday has sought raising central aid to Orissa for various agriculture schemes. Expressing concern over declining central share to the state since 2014-15, the CM has demanded a change in the pattern of 50:50 share, he said.
