Bhubaneswar, January 12: A total of 75 officials on Thursday joined the Agricultural Department and State Cashew Development Corporation.
While 22 Assistant Agriculture Officers and 53 officials joined the State Agriculture Department and State Cashew Development Corporation (OSCDC).
Gracing the orientation programme organised for the new inductees at the Lokseva Bhawan here, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said agriculture is the single largest employment providing sector of the State and holds the key to socio-economic development.
“Odisha is predominantly an agrarian economy with Agriculture and allied sector contributing nearly 21 per cent to the gross state value added products in the State,” said Patnaik.
Congratulating the new officers on virtual platform, the CM expected that the State Agriculture Sector would be filled up with new energy and passion for service as young officers become part of its delivery mechanism.
He advised the young officers to work with commitment following the 5T principles and hoped that their dedication would certainly boost the outcomes at field level.
Focusing on State’s growth in agriculture sector, he said that Odisha has taken long strides from ship to mouth situation to become surplus in food grain production.
“Moreover, the food grain production in the state has reached over 130 lakh Metric Tonnes during 2021 surpassing all its previous records. It has been more than double during the last 20 years,” added the CM.
He said that Odisha is a top performing State in Cashew production. It has a huge potential in employment and income generation.
“I hope the infusion of new blood into the management of Cashew Development Corporation would vitalize the cashew sector in Odisha,” said Patnaik.
Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment Minister Ranendra Pratap Swain, department Principal Secretary Arabinda Padhee, Development Commissioner PK Jena also graced the occasion.
