Bhubaneswar: Notwitstanding the Covid-19 pandemic, the Odisha government has drawn up an ambitious programme for production of 96 lakh tonnes of food grain during Kharif-2020 season.

According the State chief secretary, Asit Tripathy Monday said that the Agriculture & Farmers’ Empowerment department has set a target for a 96 lakh tonnes food grain production in kharif-2020 season. A total of 61.80 lakh hectare land will be cultivated during Kharif-2020.

It has been targeted to cultivate rice in 36.55 lakh hectare, green gram (moong) , black gram (biri) pulses in 8 lakh hectare, groundnut, sesame oilseeds in 3.81 lakh hectare, maize in 2.70 lakh hectare, cotton in 1.80 lakh hectare and vegetable in 5.60 hectare of land.

Tripathy said, it has been programmed to provide crop loans to the tune of Rs, 7500 Crore during Kharif 2020 through Cooperative Credit Societies.

The chief secretary along with I & PR secretary Sanjay Kumar Singh, was briefing a presser about steps taken by government of Odisha for prevention of COVID-19.


” It is a matter of happiness that all the tested COVID-19 positive patients of Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation area have been cured and discharged. Health and Family Welfare Department has stated that first COVID-19 positive case was detected in Bhubaneswar on 16th March. During this period, the number of COVID-19 positive cases had increased to 50. All positive cases have recovered fully after treatment in different COVID Hospitals.”
Stating that the 4th phase of Lock down has been extended up to 31st May, the chief secretary said, in this regard, detail notification will be issued shortly.

Asserting that the Covid-19 related death cases in Odisha is lowest in India, Tripathy said it is a matter of relief that most of the Corona positive cases in the State are reported from quarantine zones only.

Health Update
Up to midnight of 15th May, 95,766 samples have been tested.
Number of Positive Cases stands 876.
A)277 persons have already recovered/ discharged.
B) No. of Death case 4.
C)No. of active cases is 595.
D)801 persons are in hospital isolation.
E) 48 COVID-19 positive cases are identified today where as 57 positive cases have fully recovered.