Besides, subsidy worth Rs.270.00 lakh is being utilized on sale of manual as well as bullock drawn implements and pumpsets under CM's Package during 2007-08. During 2008-09, it has been proposed to subsidise 1817 powertillers, 40 paddy reapers, 24 paddy transplanters, 51 power operated implements, 72 specialised power driven implements, 40 rotavators, 1800 sets of manual & bullock drawn implements, 100 tractors and 100 tractor drawn Hydraulic trailers, 2 combine harvesters with a financial provision of Rs.849.58 lakhs.

Agro Service Centres:

     Agro Service Centers have helped farmers to use custom hired tractors and other agricultural implements. Establishment of similar Agro Service Centers has been taken up through APICOL under the State Plan funded Self Employment Programme limited to Rs. 2.00 lakh per unit. Up to 15.01 .2008, 209 Agro Service Centers have been set up and subsidy amounting Rs. 248.80 lakh has been released.

     During 2008-09, it has been proposed to establish 250 Agro Service Centres.

Promotion and Strengthening of Agricultural Mechanisation through Training Testing and demonstration:

     A Central Sector Scheme, "Development of Prototype of Industrial Designs of Agriculture Implements including Horticulture Equipments and their trial at Farmers' Field" was taken up during the year 2007-08. Demonstration of improved Agriculture Implements especially newly developed ones is one of the important ways for disseminating technology for fast popularization and adoption by the farmers. The Field Level Demonstration aims at testing of efficacy, as well as popularization of the improved/ newly developed agriculture equipments including horticultural equipments in the farmers' fields, under the actual field conditions and assessment of performance and acceptability. Agricultural implements like self-propelled paddy transplanter, tractor drawn seed-cum- fertilizer drill, rotavator, rotavator digger, potato digger, multi-crop planter, post hole digger, sugarcane cutter planter and others were demonstrated in the farmer's field. 118 newly developed equipments were procured and 259 demonstrations conducted during 2007-08 with an likely expenditure of Rs.35.39 lakh.

     During 2008-09, it has been proposed to conduct the programme with an outlay of Rs.40.00 lakh.

ORISSA AGRO INDUSTRIES CORPORATION:

     The Odisha Agro Industries Corporation Limited (OAIC) is engaged in marketing of various Agricultural Inputs including agricultural machineries / equipments / implements through a wide network of district as well as branch offices. Besides, the corporation also executes Tube Wells, Bore Wells and Direct lift irrigation Projects for individuals as well as communities. It also provides other inputs such as fertilizers, pesticides, cattle and poultry feed to the farmers. During 2007-08 the corporation has made a turn over of Rs.78.94 crores upto the end December, 2007 against annual target of Rs.133.38 crores. During 2007-08, it has sold 500 no. of tractor, 369 power tillers, 76 power reapers,1256 Diesel pumpsets, 20 sprinkler sets. Besides it has energized 63 Shallow Tube wells and 43 Bore wells upto end of December,2007.

      During 2008-09 it has proposed an annual plan for Rs.148.63 crores for various activities.

EXTENSION TRAINING AND IMAGE:

     The Centrally Sponsored Plan Scheme "Support to State Extension Reform" with 90:10 funding has been extended to all districts in 2007-08 under the Scheme Agricultural Technology Management Agency(ATMA), a Society has been created in all district with Collector as Chairperson. The aim of the scheme is intensification of extension activities of allied Department, various stake holders, NGOs and farmers. During 2007-08, Rs.1520.10 lakhs have been utilized for training, demonstrations, exposure visits, agricultural fairs and other extension activities. IMAGE is the State Level Institute for imparting training on various agricultural activities to farmers and extension workers.