On Sat, Sep 24, 2011 at 1:47 PM, Digambara Patra
Dear Honourable Chief Minister Mr Patnaik and Chief Secretary Mr Patnaik,
Recently Chief Minister of West Bengal Ms Mamata Benerjee has written to the central Govt. for establishing a Central Agriculture University in the backward region of West Bengal as the Central Government is giving special importance for agricultural growth in the eastern part of the nation including Odisha, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand etc.
The performance of agriculture in Odisha is adorable during your leadership and Odisha must not lose the opportunity for a Central Agriculture University.
Agriculture is contributing substantially to the economy and human resources in Odisha. It is the prime source to the rural economy and is backbone of the nation, especially for backward areas like KBK.
Social development of backward parts of the country largely depends on the development of agriculture sector and many of these backward pockets in the nation have a great agriculture potential.
Kalahandi was known as the rice bowl of Odisha at one time. Today also this region shares a high percentage in rice, pulses and cotton production in the state. Realizing its potential in agriculture, state Govt. has established an Agriculture College at Bhawanipatna in 2009. Establishing a Central Agriculture University here will further catapult growth of agriculture and agro-based economy in KBK region.
Central Agriculture University in Kalahandi will not only trigger the development of advanced technology and research skill in agriculture sector as par with other national institutions in the world class level but also benefit the local economy by improving the living standard for marginalized people in backward cluster of KBK, Gajpati and Kandhamal, as Bhawanipatna is located centrally to this tribal and backward cluster.
Ministry of Agriculture has already established Central Agriculture University at Imphal, one of the backward locations, for serving North Eastern states. Recently the Union agriculture ministry had also given the go-ahead to develop a Central Agriculture University in Jhansi in Bundelkhand, another backward location, which can serve the interest of North part of the nation. Banaras Hindu University, a central university, has also agricultural discipline serving the interest in the north part of the nation.
In eastern part of the nation, although we had appealed for the same, West Bengal Govt. has already taken initiative in advanced in our line and sent a proposal for establishing a Central Agriculture University in the backward Medinapore of West Bengal.
http://
http://www.thestatesman.net/
http://www.telegraphindia.com/
We sincerely request Odisha Govt. also send a formal proposal immediately to the central Govt. for establishing Central Agriculture University at Kalahandi in the 12th plan period for Odisha.
Thanking you and best regards
Digambara Patra
Pioneer article http://dailypioneer.com/
‘Backward Odisha needs central agri varsity & now’
Thursday, 16 February 2012 23:25
PNS | Bhubaneswar
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Odisha is likely to miss a Central Agriculture University during the Twelfth Plan period, thanks to the callous approach of the State Government, educationists said.
While the Mamata Banerjee-led West Bengal is taking aggressive steps to grab a CAU, Odisha, which has a highly deserving case for such a university, seems to overlook the matter.
“As all of us know that agriculture is the mainstay of the State, locating a CAU in a backward region of the State is a much-needed requirement,” feels Prof. Chitta Baral of the Arizona State University of the US. Prof. Baral, a leading non-resident Odia, who has all along been batting for the State’s issues, has pointed out that as the 12th Plan is being given final shape, Odisha needs to root for a CAU in a backward region.
He said a big focus of the 11th Plan was on human resource development, especially in higher education. With the 11th Plan coming to an end in 2011-12 and some of the proposals such as 14 Innovation Universities and 20 new IIITs yet to be implemented, thrust needs to be given on new initiatives like a number of CAUs all over the country, he said.
The Odisha Government has to project its case in a suitable manner so that policymakers would include it in the plan proposal, said a former Agriculture Production Commissioner of the State. This would not only improve GRE but would not stress the Union HRD budget as funds would be made available from the Union Ministry of Agriculture, he added.
In his Budget speeches during the last two years, Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee has all along stressed that, for the sake of inclusive growth in the agriculture sector, an allotment of `400 crore to seven States, including Odisha to improve the rice-based cropping system is too little.
However, upon the intervention of Rahul Gandhi, MP and general secretary of Congress, a provision of `30 crore for a CAU in Bundelkhand has been made in the Budget of 2011-12.
Tathya.in article http://www.tathya.in/new/
Odisha to miss CAU bus
Bhubaneswar : 15/February/2012
Odisha is likely to miss the Central Agriculture University (CAU) in Twelfth Plan period, thanks to the callous approach of the State Government, feel educationists.
While Mamata Banerjee led West Bengal taking aggressive steps to grab CAU for the state, Odisha, which has the deserving case for the same seems to overlook the matter, allege they.
As all of us know that the Agriculture is the main stay of the state, locating a CAU in the backward region of Odisha is a much needed requirement, feels Chitta Baral, Professor Arizona State University of USA.
Prof.Baral, a leading NRO, who has been all along on the forefront in batting for state issues, has said that as the Twelfth Plan is being given final shape, Odisha needs to harp for a CAU in its’ backward region.
He said a big focus of the Eleventh Plan was on Human Resource Development (HRD), especially on Higher Education.
With the Eleventh Plan coming to an end in 2011-12, and some of the proposals are yet to be implemented (such as 14 Innovation Universities, and 20 new IIITs), now thrust needs to be given on new initiatives.
Such an initiative is setting a number of CAU in all over the country and especially in Odisha, said he.
The State Government has to project the case in a concrete method, so that policy makers will include in the plan proposal, said a former Agriculture Production Commissioner (APC).
This will not only improve GRE, but will not stress MHRD budget as funds will be roped in from Ministry of Agriculture, he added.
During last two years in his budget speeches, Union Minister Finance, Pranab Mukherjee has all along stressed that for inclusive growth in agriculture sector, where as allotment of Rs.400 crore to seven states including Odisha to improve rice based cropping system is miniscule for the purpose.
However on political consideration and intervention of Rahul Gandhi, MP and General Secretary of Congress, provision of Rs.30 crore for a CAU at Bundelkhand has been made in the budget of 2011-12.
So it is high time that both political leadership and bureaucracy need to take up the issue of setting a CAU in Odisha, feel educationists.
PTI article in IBN Live http://ibnlive.in.com/
'12th Plan must give special emphasis on agriculture'
PTI | 04:02 PM,Feb 19,2012
Bhubaneswar, Feb 19 (PTI) Advocating a separate budget for agriculture in Odisha during the 12th five-year plan, a noted agricultural economist has said it would enable the state to achieve more than four per cent growth in the farm sector by giving special thrust and removing hurdles. "Since Odisha s economic growth is over 9 per cent, higher than national average, there should be a separate budget for agriculture during 12th Plan period (2012-2017) to transfer the benefits of high growth to rural poor," said Dibakar Naik, Professor in Agriculture Economics in Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT) here. "It will give a special thrust for higher agricultural growth in the state. Finally the growth can be inclusive and can remove the barriers on the way to achieve more than 4 per cent growth in agriculture," he said in a special study. Seeking special emphasis on agriculture, Naik said 12th Plan should focus on areas like development of stress tolerant rice varieties for rain-fed areas, development of pulse varieties suitable to Odisha, particularly for sowing in rain-fed areas after paddy crop is harvested. Importance should also be accorded to technology for fertiliser use in pulses sown in rain-fed situation, Naik said, also Dean, College of Agriculture, OUAT. Favouring use of Foreign Direct Investment for developing dependable rural market for farm produce on pilot basis with suitable regulation and price policy at producers level, he said credit should be available to rain-fed farmers. Steps should also be taken for increasing seed replacement and strengthening quality seed supply, including its storage facilities at panchayat level and development of farm implements suitable to small and marginal farmers which can reduce cost of production, the farm economist said. Voicing concern over fall in India's growth rate, he said due to high inflation including food inflation for last two and half years, high interest rate, low agricultural growth, decline in industrial growth and impact of euro-zone crisis, the economic growth may be within 7 per cent in the current financial year.
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