Sambalpur, February 16: Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Monday inaugurated the Matsya 'O' Prani Sampada Mela and visited Subhadra Shakti stalls, including agriculture and farm mechanisation exhibits at the event premises in Sambalpur.
Addressing the gathering, the Sambalpur MP urged Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL) to provide 1,000 cows to farmers to boost milk production and enhance their income.
Under the initiative, each cow costs Rs 90,000, with farmers contributing Rs 20,000 and MCL providing Rs 70,000 in assistance.
The Union Minister said that Sambalpur has a population of around 15 lakh people across 3 lakh families and about 6.5 lakh hectares of land comprising 40 per cent agricultural land, 30 per cent forest land, and 30 per cent other land.
"Under the Krushi Udyami scheme, farmers in the district availed loans worth Rs 80 crore last year, of which Rs 40 crore has been waived by the state government," Pradhan added.
Earlier on Sunday, Union Minister Pradhan and Odisha Sports Minister Suryabanshi Suraj flagged off the Hirakud International Half Marathon in Sambalpur. An initiative organised by Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL) under the Fit India campaign in collaboration with the Sambalpur District Administration under the Fit India campaign. (With ANI inputs)
