Sambalpur, Feb. 16 -- Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan inaugurated the Matsya 'O' Prani Sampada Mela and visited Subhadra Shakti stalls, including agriculture and farm mechanisation exhibits at the event premises in Sambalpur.

Addressing the gathering, the Sambalpur MP urged Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL) to provide 1,000 cows to farmers to boost milk production and enhance their income.

Under the initiative, each cow costs Rs 90,000, with farmers contributing Rs 20,000 and MCL providing Rs 70,000 in assistance.

The Union Minister said that Sambalpur has a population of around 15 lakh people across 3 lakh families and about 6.5 lakh hectares of land comprising 40 per cent agricultural land, 30 per cent forest land, and 30...