Bhubaneswar: The state govt on Monday announced a monthly stipend for regular postgraduate (PG) and PhD students of Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT) pursuing agriculture and allied disciplines, considered a major push to agricultural education and research.Under the new initiative, PG students will receive a stipend of Rs 10,000 per month for two years, while PhD scholars will be provided Rs 15,000 per month for up to three years.The agriculture department has taken the decision with the objective of encouraging quality research and providing financial support to meritorious students pursuing higher studies in agriculture and allied sciences.Deputy chief minister and minister for agriculture & farmers’ empowerment and energy, Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo, said the initiative would enable students to devote more time to research and innovation without financial constraints. “Investing in our young researchers means securing the future of Odisha’s farmers. With this assistance, our students can focus on new innovations and research without financial worries,” Singh Deo said.The stipend scheme will be applicable to all regular PG and PhD students enrolled in agriculture and allied subjects at OUAT.Officials said the financial assistance is expected to strengthen the state’s agricultural research ecosystem by encouraging more students to pursue advanced studies and contribute to innovations that can benefit Odisha’s farming sector.
