Bhubaneswar, July 22: The Biju Janata Dal has geared up to address issues pertaining to farmers.

While chief minister Naveen Patnaik today reviewed the agriculture policy, the BJD has constituted a committee under former agriculture minister Pradeep Maharathy to popularise government initiatives for development of agriculture and welfare of farmers. The committee has been asked to organise training programmes by way of meetings and workshops for the party cadres and leaders at the gram pancahyat and block levels to create awareness on agriculture budget, agriculture policy and initiatives in irrigation sectors.

“Special focus will be on sensitisation about Biju Krushak Kalayan Yojana, crop loan at two per cent and subsidies provided by BJD government on agriculture and allied sector,” Maharathy said.

The move is aimed at countering the Congress allegation that the BJD was working against the interests of farmers. Pradesh Congress Committee chief Jaydev Jena said: “The government has failed to address the issue of farmers. Scared of losing the 2014 elections, they have woken up to the issues of farmers at the last moment. Earlier, they tried to lure farmers by offering them mobile phones but when it boomeranged, they are trying to come up with new strategies.”

Meanwhile, the BJD has decided to initiate steps in fisheries and animal husbandry sector with special emphasis on fisherman package, mobile veterinary health units and gram panchayat level veterinary camps. The committee will conduct meetings throughout the state in the next two months involving local leaders, farmers groups and organisations.

In the review meeting on agriculture policy, the state government decided to extend insurance of 50,000 cows and buffaloes in 21 districts.

“With this, the interests of the farmers can be protected,” said officials.

The districts that will be covered are Angul, Balasore, Balangir, Boudh, Dhenkanal, Deogarh, Ganjam, Gajapati, Jharsuguda, Kalahandi, Koraput, Malkangiri, Nabarangpur, Nuapada, Rayagada, Sundergarh, Sonepur, Nayagarh, Kandhamal and Bhadrak.

It was also decided that mobile veterinary units would be extended to five districts such as Cuttack, Balasore, Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar and Sundergarh.

In order to make Odisha self-reliant in fish production, the state government has decided to provide housing loans to nearly 10,000 fishermen.