Bhubaneswar: On the fourth day of Make in Odisha (MIO) Conclave 2018, the state government received intents of investments worth Rs 1,412 crore, said cooperation minister Surya Narayan Patro here.
Briefing media persons, Patro said, “We have received intent of investment worth Rs 300 crore from Reliance Retail while ITC Ltd promised to invest Rs 520 crore in agri marketing sector.”
Similarly, he said, about Rs 300 crore will be invested for strengthen and up gradation of warehousing facilities with latest technology whereas Rs 1,12 crore to be invested through contract farming.
“The government is going to bring new legislation on contract farming to facilitate small traders to buy agri products from our farmers and they will sale it on market,” he said.
Besides, the Dabur has also shown interest to invest in the state. However, they have not make any specific commitment, he said, adding, “They will explore the area to invest money. After that, they will make agreement with us.”
During the meeting, the Cooperation department has signed two MoUs for development agri-marketing in the state. While the first MoU was signed with National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd (NAFED), another agreement with Warehousing Development & Regulatory Authority (WRDA) for mobilizing the warehouses for registration with WDRA through the institutions like OSWC, Markfed, RMCs and PACS and organise awareness, training and capacity building programme for farmers for a period of three years.
NAFED will brand pulses, tea, tea bag, sale of bio-fertilisers and other agri products and certified seeds including oil seeds and pulses etc, the minister added.
PNN
