Odisha giving thrust on agriculture: Naveen

Khariar: Odisha government is focusing on development of agriculture and animal husbandry in its effort to bring people of backward regions to the mainstream, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said on Sunday.

"Agriculture and animal resources are closely linked and many people depend on this sector for their sustenance. So, the government is taking steps to increase agriculture productivity and promote diary farms," Patnaik said. Odisha`s minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Animal Resources Development Debi Prasad Mishra said, the state government was doling out agriculture loan of Rs 3 lakh to farmers through Kissan Credit Cards. Patnaik was on a visit to Nuapada district to attend the 55th All Odisha Utakal Yadav Samaja Mahasamilani here. Stating that Odisha was a peace loving state, Patnaik said people belonging to all religion, caste and creed believed in peaceful co-existence. The backward Nuapada district formed part of the undivided Kalahani-Bolangir-Koraput (KBK) region of Odisha. PTI