Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik Thursday distributed appointment orders to 240 newly-recruited veterinary doctors selected through Orissa Public Service Commission (OPSC) against 376 veterinary officer posts created last year.
He distributed the letters at a state-level workshop – Enhancing Farmers’ Income Through Upgrading Animal Resources: Role of Veterinary Officers – at Rabindra Mandap here.
Patnaik also released video clips on poultry, dairy and goat farming along with a logo of ‘Pranidhanara Unnati –Rajyara Pragati’.
In his speech the Chief Minister said, “My government is also taking exclusive steps to fill the vacant posts, both in technical and non-technical cadres, in agriculture and allied sectors,” stated the CM.
“I would like to commend the role of veterinarians and agriculture officers in strengthening our rural economy since about 90 per cent of farmers of the state belong to small and marginal category. The livestock sector immensely delivers in promoting dairy, goat, sheep and poultry farming as additional activities which contribute substantially to enhancing the income and well-being of farmers,” remarked the Chief Minister.
“I wish the new recruits a very successful career. I’m sure they will serve the state for the larger cause of our farmers,” Patnaik concluded.
Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment, Fisheries & Animal Resources Development Minister Pradeep Maharathy said, “In 2017-18, we have produced 57 lakh litres of milk while it was 50 lakh litres in 2013-14.”
“In 2017-18, about 60,000-70,000 litres of milk produced in the state was supplied to Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh. Similarly, per day egg production touched 57 lakh in 2017-18 up from 52 lakh in 2014-15,” he added.
The minister said, “Our target is to make Odisha self-reliant in egg production by 2020.”
The Commissioner-cum-Secretary, FARD, Vishal Gagan, said 541 veterinary dispensaries and 3,239 livestock aid centres are now functioning across the state for providing animal healthcare services. In the last five years, 7 lakh farmers have been benefitted and have become self-sufficient through goat rearing, poultry rearing and dairy farming, he added.
Also watch: Agriculture minister Pradeep Maharathy addressing the Media after the workshop
PNN
