Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has requested the union government to establish a Central Farm Machinery Training and Testing Institute in the state. In a letter to Union Agriculture Minister, Patnaik has given assurance to provide all sort of assistance required for the project including land and water. He said the central institute in Biswanath Chariali in Assam, which is meant for the eastern states, was unable to meet the need of the state to the desired extent. “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,” said Patnaik. He also said, the state government has enhanced subsidy in its State Agriculture Policy, 2013 to ensure widespread use of farm machinery. He said the state has 10 agro-climatic zones and hence there was a need to ensure quick tests of machinery to see what was suitable and also for providing training on operation, repair and maintenance.
