By Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, June 10, 2020: Odisha has set a target to produce 96 lakh metric tons of food grains during the kharif season this year notwithstanding the COVID-19 outbreak, agriculture and farmers’ empowerment department secretary Sourabh Garg said adding that there would be cultivation in 61.80 lakh hectare of land.

The focus will be more on diversification of crops, increase the acreage of pulses, oilseeds and other crops as these steps would provide remunerative prices to farmers., he added.

Stating that the government had announced a special package of Rs 200 crore for farmers who are affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, Garg said, more than 60 per cent of Odisha’s population depends on the agriculture sector.

Following the outbreak of coronavirus, the state targets to cover more than 25 lakh farmers under the special scheme to boost agricultural and horticultural activities. With tens of thousands of migrant workers returning to the state, the state plans to develop 1,03,000 ponds to provide employment to migrant workers and undertake plantation activities in 19,900 hectare of land to engage the rural workforce.

The state government will cover 30 lakh farmers under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana in the kharif season to mitigate risk, he said on Tuesday.

Loans to the tune of Rs 2,649 crore has been provided to over six lakh farmers in this kharif season by end of May and the state plans to disburse credit to the tune of Rs 9,000 crore to farmers through cooperative institutions during the kharif season compared to Rs 7,500 crore provided last year.