Bhubaneswar, March 10: A Research Fellow working in the bio-materials and tissue generation lab of the SOA University has been honoured by the Odisha government for developing an innovative idea intended to help the farmers.
Satish Kumar Samal, who works at the Centre of Excellence for Theoretical and Mathematical Sciences (CETMS) in SOA University, was presented the award instituted under the Odisha Youth Innovation Fund Scheme for promotion of innovative entrepreneurship among the youth.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik presented the award to Samal at the inaugural function of ‘Entrepreneurs Week, 2016’ on March 5.
Samal’s idea — ‘Saving the farmers and strengthening food security in Odisha’–focused on integrated rice-fish farming enabling farmers to go for pisciculture in their rice fields.
“It will result in mutual benefit to both rice and fish and achieve maximum utilization of the land. While the paddy benefits in the form of additional nutrients derived from fish excreta, the fish also stir up soil nutrients making them available for the crop along with nitrogen,” Samal said.
It also helps reduce aquatic weeds due to fish presence and the fish get a favourable micro climate due to the presence of paddy, he added.
The state government had launched the Odisha Youth Innovation Fund as per the state youth policy to support innovations including those at the grass root level which were essentially need-based, simple, cost effective and sustainable technological solutions.
