10 polytechnics mooted by OUAT

BHUBANESWAR: The OUAT has proposed to set up 10 polytechnics in the agro-climatic zones of the State. The polytechnics would offer two-year diploma course for Plus-Two pass-outs in the disciplines of agriculture, veterinary, horticulture and pisciculture. “Government approval is awaited and if every thing falls in place, the varsity would open the polytechnics in the current academic year itself,” said OUAT Vice-Chancellor (V-C) D P Ray. Addressing the fifth State-level extension council meeting of the varsity, Ray said the polytechnics will also provide certificate courses for school dropouts in various disciplines. Besides, the varsity’s two existing training centres for horticulture at Khurda and Kalinga would be upgraded. Principal Secretary, Agriculture, R Jamuda said while 60 per cent of the State’s workforce is involved in agriculture, the productivity is just 20 pc. He said while the national average of paddy production is 21 quintal per hectare, in Orissa it is just 16 quintal despite a lot of research  in paddy cultivation. He said besides paddy, scientists should also concentrate on developing non-paddy crops and efforts should be made for knowledge dissemination among the farmers.Echoing similar views, Agriculture Minister Pradeep Maharathy said agricultural production in the State would go up drastically if knowledge about modern farming techniques is made available to the farming community. “The marginal and small farmers with poor knowledge and resource base do not usually adopt scientific applications in the field,” he said adding that the gap between scientific knowhow and field-level application of techniques has been widening in the recent years. “Overcoming this knowledge deficit at the earliest is the need of the hour to enhance farm productivity,” the Minister added. He urged the scientists, working in Krishi Vigyan Kendras across the State, to keep the farmers updated about changing farming practices and market intelligence.