Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government focused on flourishing cooperative activities in sectors and trades like Orissan cuisine, micro irrigation, truck-mounted processing facilities at farm gates, agro forestry, organic vegetables, inland and coastal fisheries, fish marketing, salt production, diary, paddy procurement and processing, animal husbandry, hospitality and tourism.
A high-level meeting chaired by chief secretary, AP Padhi, here on Monday, deliberated on Integrated Cooperative Development Programme(ICDP) focusing these areas having potential for generating new employment opportunities. The meeting was attended by development commissioner R Balakrishnan, and agriculture production commissioner, Gagan Dhal.
Considering the proposals, Padhi directed various departments to make assessment of the growth potential through cooperative structures. Development Commissioner Balakrishnan advised the departments to make a realistic assessment and visualize concrete projects with resource requirement. It was decided that the department of Cooperation would carry forward ICDP initiatives as the nodal department.
The National Cooperative Development Corporation(NCDC) managing director, Snadeep Kumar Nayak, who was present at the meeting, said that NCDC is going to participate in the state government’s programmes and provide loan financial assistance in shape of loan to state government and public sector owned marketing federations for these activities.
The cooperative principal secretary, Ranjana Chopra, tourism principal secretary Dr Mona Sharma, fisheries & animal resource development secretary Vishal Gagan, textile and handloom secretary Subha Sharma, women & child eevelopment secretary Chitra Arumugam participated in the deliberations.
