IPM demonstration-cum-training have been taken up in compact patches. Rs.1,00,000/- was spent on each programme. Farmers were imparted training once in a week for 5 months. Bio-pesticides were provided free of cost with IPM kit to each participating farmers. An expenditure of Rs.23.00 lakh was incurred for conducting 23 such programmes during 2007-08.

     During 2008-09, it is proposed to take up 15 such programmes at a cost of Rs.15.00 lakh.

     In order to encourage the farmers for use of Pheromone trap and bio-agents in cotton crop assistance was provided to the farmers. Rs.5.46 lakh have been spent for providing subsidy on Pheromone trap on 1820 ha and Rs. 22.17 lakh for subsidy on bio-agents on 2463 ha.

     During 2008-09, an outlay of Rs.16.50 lakh has been proposed under these components to cover 2500 hectares.

     In addition to above measures, initiatives like Training of facilitators, subsidy on supply of weedicides etc were taken up during 2007-08. 508 Nos. of farmers were provided with weedicides with subsidy of Rs.1 .27 lakh and 2 numbers of trainings of Facilitators were conducted with a subsidy of Rs. 20.00 lakh.

     The achievement during 2007-08 and programme proposed for 2008-09 are given at Annexure-IV [See Page No. 24]

Jute & Mesta Development:

     Under the Scheme "Jute Technology Mission (MM-II)", 40 Farmers' Field School on jute crop was taken up in selected jute-growing blocks where jute area is substantial. In each field school, 50 farmers were trained for 5 days in the cropping season. Training on fertilizer management, intercultural operation, IPM, harvesting technique and retting & extraction of fiber were imparted to the farmer trainees. Rs.10.00 lakh was spent @ Rs.25, 000/- per school.

     60 such Farmers' schools will be taken up during 2007-08 with an out lay of Rs.15.00 lakh.

     3 groups of farmers were sent on exposure visit to outside the State to acquire on-site knowledge about the package of practices. Rs.1 .80 lakhs were spent for the programme.

     It is proposed to send 6 such groups during 2008-09 with an outlay of Rs.3.60 lakh.

     Subsidy was given to the farmers on sale of quality jute Certified Seeds to the tune of 588 qtl. with an expenditure of Rs.1 1.76 lakh.

     During 2008-09, 700 qtls of Jute & Mesta seeds will be distributed to farmers at an outlay of Rs.14.00 lakh.

     During 2007-08, new intervention like production technology demonstration in 600 hectares and 50 nos. of retting technology demonstration had been taken up with an expense of Rs.17.46 lakh and Rs.1.00 lakh respectively under Jute Technology Mission (MM-II). Besides, Rs.12.75 lakh has been spent during 2007-08 on retting scheme and construction of retting tanks.

     During 2008-09 it is programmed to implement these schemes at an outlay of Rs. 89.65 lakh.

The achievement during 2007-08 and programme proposed for 2008-09 are given at Annexure-IV [See Page No. 24]

National Project on Organic Farming:

     A sum of Rs. 37.57 lakhs has been received under the scheme against the proposed outlay of Rs.500.00 lakh.

     It is proposed to continue implementation of the scheme during 2008-09 with an outlay of Rs.250.00 lakh in order to establish vermi hatcheries in each Block and vermi compost unit in each village.

Strengthening Of Infrastructure Development For Training, Research Centre/ Laboratories/ Implement Factory:

     The Directorate of Agriculture has 3 Regional Institutes for Training on Extension (RITE), 11 Soil Testing Laboratories, 13 Adaptive Research Stations/ Laboratories. RITEs engage themselves in imparting intensive training to farmers, agri-entrepreneurs and the Extension functionaries, while Adaptive Research Stations are engaged for multi location trials and evolving location specific technologies. The various Laboratories (soil/ fertilizer/ pesticide/ seed testing) look after quality control and soil testing aspects. The implement factory designs, tests and produces different agricultural implements/ machineries. Under the scheme the infrastructure facilities of these institutions are strengthened. During 2007-08 work for establishment of 2 new Soil Testing Laboratories at Keonjhar and Angul has began to provide better soil testing facilities to farming communities. Besides Soil testing kit refils have been provided to the field functionaries under the scheme and the soil testing services are being strengthened at an expense of Rs.130.34 lakhs. Rs. 80.00 lakhs have been provided for 2007-08 to continue establishment and equipping the soil testing laboratories. To build the additional capacity of testing more soil samples and establishing micronutrient-testing facility in few of the soil testing laboratories, an outlay of Rs.80.00 lakh has been proposed for the year 2008-09 to continue establishment and equipping the soil testing laboratories.