By Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, April 18, 2016 : Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik has appealed the Centre to set up Central Farm Machinery Training and Testing Institute (CFMT & TI) in the state to meet the testing and training need of the state as well as neighbouring states.

In a letter to Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Radha Mohan Singh, Patnaik has assured to extend all kinds of assistance required for the project including land and water.

“The state has 10 agro-climatic zones and hence there is a need to ensure quick testing of implements/machinery developed which are suitable for different agro climatic conditions of the state and also for providing training facilities for the operation, repair and maintenance.

The Central Farm Machinery Training and Testing Institute (CFMT & TI) located at Biswanathcharialli in Assam meant for the eastern states of the country is unable to meet the need of the state to the desired extent,” he said.

The state has been laying emphasis on farm mechanisation with an objective of improving efficiency in agriculture operations for cost reduction, increased productivity and an increase in farmers’ income.

For ensuring widespread use of farm machinery, the state government has enhanced subsidy in its State Agriculture Policy, 2013. As a result, the farm power input has increased from 1.32 kwH/Ha during 2012-13 to 1.45 kwH/Ha during 2014-15. The state is also providing a subsidy of around Rs.250 crore annually for this purpose, he noted.

“I am given to understand that Government of India is planning to set up more such institutions in the country. It is requested that one Central Farm Machinery Training and Testing Institute (CFMT & TI) may be established in Odisha to meet the testing and training need of the state as well as neighbouring states,” he added.